<p>I have never been the best writer, so writing this was difficult for me. Please read this and give me some advice. Title ideas would be helpful as well.</p>
<pre><code> If I had to pick one person to end up on a desert island with, it would be my friend Dan. Its not because hed be a lot of fun to hang out with or anything like that; rather, being alone with him would drive me so crazy, I would be hugely motivated to get us the heck off that island. I guarantee I would somehow have us both back in Ohio, but far away from each other, in under an hour.
I have known Dan since I was in first grade, but I wouldnt say I really got to know him until we both ended up on our high schools drumline. Dan has always had a hard time making friends. He usually has trouble reading facial expressions. However, he is extremely good at reading mine. In fact, I am fairly sure he can read my mind- a skill he uses to push my buttons as much as possible. He has a way of analyzing everything I do and announcing, quite loudly, how exactly I feel. Then, he criticizes those feelings. He is able to dig under my skin and, smirking, say the very thing that can annoy me the most at the moment. He seems to take great amusement from exposing my flaws and insecurities- and he is almost always right.
</code></pre>
<p>One particular occasion when Dan pushed my buttons occurred at a drumline practice this past fall. I wasnt in a great mood. Dan figured this out and quickly realized the fun he could have. It started with me telling Dan and another member of the drumline that they were keeping time differently that our instructor had told us too. The other boy happily adjusted, but Dan only smiled and continued to keep time in his own way. After a couple of minutes, I asked Dan to please keep time like the rest of the line. This was a big mistakeI should have just ignored it. He looked me in the eyes, making it perfectly clear he was about to issue a challenge, and asked, Why? Knowing a battle was beginning, I explained that when he doesnt keep time like the rest of us, it compromises the conformity of the line. The drumline, and the whole band, was supposed to look like one single body. Dan smirked. What happened to being individuals? Is this peer pressure? I contemplated a response. He knew that I was in no mood for this kind of thing. Dan
I began, and he cut me off. This is a dictatorship! This is oppression of my creative soul! He threw his cymbals on the ground. Revolt against Rachel! Come on everybody! Its a revolution! he shouted as he stormed to the door. The room went silent. Two nervous, but smiling freshman followed him. He opened the door, looked back at me with that smirk, and walked out. The rest of the drumline seemed to think this was hilarious, but I was ready to scream. I give up, I said fairly calmly. The room went silent. I dropped my sticks on the ground and walked out.
Dan was standing outside of the room when I got through the door, still smirking. He followed me as I started to walk away. I turned around and began to yell at him. Who did he think he was, walking out on my rehearsal? He couldnt just do that. When I finished my rant, he calmly said, If you can, why shouldnt I? That hit me hard. He was right. If what he had done was inappropriate, then me walking out was absolutely unacceptable. As a student leader, it was my job to set a good example, but I had only shown that what Ian did was okay. I had overreacted and done exactly what Dan had wanted me to do. I felt humiliated. Adults have always commended me on my patience, but Ian was able to prove to myself- and the rest of the drumline-that it was something I needed to work on.
Despite- and probably because of- all of this, Dan is one of my best friends. When he saw that I knew I had done something wrong, his smirk turned to a more sympathetic smile. He told me I needed to learn to relax, and I could not help but smile myself. I am not quite sure why he does these to me, but I know he is not trying to be mean. Actually, I have grown thankful for it. He seems to know me better than I know myself. I think that when he points out my flaws, he is pointing out things he thinks I can change. He makes me realize that I have a lot of potential, but I have a lot of work to do, too.
I have learned from Dan that when someone exposes your flaws, you should not be offended, as annoying as it may be. You should take it as a helpful hint towards what you can improve upon to become a better person. It is undeniable that Dan pushes me to my limit of patience, but he pushes me to other limits too. Whether it be to improve my leadership skills or get off a desert island, Dan pushes me be the best that I can be.</p>