Almost Famous: Writing From A Youth's Perspective

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Almost Famous: Writing From A Youth's Perspective

By Jack Lepiarz
Nov. 28, 2005

I got the idea for this article somewhere around 1:30 in the morning, drifting in and out of consciousness, watching "Almost Famous." The movie chronicles the story of a 15-year-old boy named William Miller trying to become a journalist. Through a bit of luck and quick-thinking, he lands the opportunity to write for Rolling Stone Magazine. His assignment: a 3,000 word article on an up-and-coming rock band. He travels with them, trying to fend off distractions from his mother, the editor of Rolling Stone, and life on the road. He keeps trying to get the band's lead guitarist, Russel Hammond, into an interview, but is repeatedly foiled by the band's constant fighting and partying. Over the course of the entire tour, it shows Will getting only one question in on Russel, to which he responds, dumbstruck, "When did you get so professional?"

Which brings me to the point of this article. Throughout the movie, Will is seen as an innocent kid, only there to provide the band with amusement. He is not taken seriously until he finally writes the article of the band, attacking them mercilessly and portraying them as drunken party-boys.

I have taken some flak because of my age. Most people have been very supportive of me. Tim Stelly has encouraged me since early spring. Ron Lewis and Brooks A. Mick have been great in helping me improve my writing. But for all of them, there are people who refuse to listen to me simply because of my age. When I was confronted about one of my articles over the phone, the man actually had the audacity to say "Why am I arguing this with a 16-year-old?" These are people who make private conflicts public for all of the site to see. These are the people who cannot seem to turn the other cheek, and yet feel that they must tell the whole world about their troubles (this is not limited to Useless Knowledge, either). I've turned the other cheek in regard to a number of these insults (and I take them as such).

Those that discriminate based on age are the ones that need to take a reality check. Age is not an issue. Period. Don't underestimate someone based on their age. Who knows. They might end up like William Miller, writing an honest assessment of your vices. We may be naive, we may be innocent. We may be whatever you want to call us. But remember that we see things too.

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About the author: Jack Lepiarz is a senior at Madison High School. Born in Waco, Texas, he lived with the Big Apple Circus for much of his early childhood, eventually moving to Madison, New Jersey, where he now resides. Although he is often described as stubborn and egotistical, he tries to keep an open-mind towards new ideas and treat people the way he would like to be treated.

Email: Jackwuzhere42@aol.com

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