Mr. Greasy. Photo: Bandy
I’ve been bombing hills all of high school—hitting races, filming videos, going on skate trips, and other adventures of that sort. For example, I’m writing this month’s Wheelbase column from the backseat of the PDX Skate Bus—heading to Santa Barbara on a six day skate trip. My other schoolmates have 2 days left until break and are probably sitting at home on Facebook procrastinating on that project due tomorrow. Good thing I turned my project in this morning! Now, I’m chilling with the homies, headed to a beautiful part of California for a little R&R. It’s actually pretty easy to pull this off; more and more high school students are taking time off school to pursue “extra-curricular activities”. Below are some tips to kicking back, but not slacking. Check it:
- Get a job; money is helpful.
- Figure out your school’s grad requirements, finish them ASAP. This way by 11th and 12th grade you barley have any classes.
- It sounds weak, but meet with your school’s principal and let them know what’s up: “I skate a ton, I’ll need to disappear for days at a time, but since I have an above average GPA it is totally chill.” This is what I said and it worked for me.
- Girlfriends (but not girls) are kind of a weak.
- Don’t party like an idiot.
- Drive slow; crashing cars is expensive and painful to skate funds.
I’m not claiming a deep knowledge of this subject, but I am a traveling skateboarder dealing with high school and this is just my two cents. Anyway, when that stuff is all dialed-in and you are in a rhythm it’s pretty mellow.
Chill hard, skate new and cool places, remember the roots.
-Liam Morgan
________________________________
GENERAL DISCLIAMER: The statements, comments, and opinions expressed by Liam Morgan through Notes of a Greasy Young Man are those of “Mr. Greasy” himself, who is solely responsible for them, and they do not necessarily represent the views of Wheelbase LLC. Questions or comments regarding any information listed in this particular column can be addressed by contacting aliens, or channeling the spirit of Isaac Hayes.
Wheelbase Management
props given man, just started high school so reading this is seeing glimpse through the clouds of how gnarly (in a good way) life can be if i study up. well wishes from the rainstorms of portland
Well wishes back at ya. Work hard, skate hard.
Great tips! I’ve been doing my homework during lunch so after school I skate until dinner!
Yeah buddy. Get ‘er done!
A traveling skater sounds hard but i guess it will be worth it. Does he mean any job? Cant you get sponsored and get paid?
Getting sponsored is hard. Really hard. You’ll be better off getting a minimum-wage job at a restaurant instead of pursuing a sponsorship. _Much_ higher percentage of success.
Yes, getting sponsored and making a living at it is a difficult task indeed. A lot of it has to do with who you know. It’s not for everyone, but we do suggest that no matter what you pursue i n life that you do it with dignity, zeal, and respect. If you decide, as Jonathan suggests above, to flip burgers as a job, then be the best damn burger flipper ever. Hard work pays. Fact. Stay shredding.