Bob Jones High student sees life as a lot like a Scrabble game

HT staff By HT staff
on October 25, 2010 at 4:56 PM, updated October 25, 2010 at 5:00 PM

MADISON, AL - Have you ever thought about how life is like a game of Scrabble? Of course, life is like a lot of things - a box of chocolates, for example, according to Forrest Gump. But as I sit here watching my mom and youngest brother play Scrabble around the dinner table, I realize how similar board games are to life.

First of all, let's consider all the components of the game of Scrabble. You are limited to seven letter chips to make whatever words you can. Sometimes the letters you get seem ridiculous and you see no way of making sense - much less a decent word - out of them.

You play against two to four other players who sometimes ruin your plan for a word. When you get the chance to make a word that wins several points, you take it. It's a fun and challenging game, and it can also be humbling when your 9-year-old brother scores the most points.

So compare this to life. In life, there are limits, sometimes you get rid of them, and sometimes you encounter new ones. You have to do your best within these limits or circumstances when sometimes it seems ridiculous or unfair. Also in life, other people can affect your ideas of what is best or thwart your attempts to succeed.

That's why no one's life is perfect. We have our limitations - some chosen, some not - and we often have to play off the occasionally selfish actions of others. And when we have an opportunity to score big, we hopefully have the courage to do so.

It can be frustrating, though, when you're playing Scrabble and someone decides to make a short word out of plain letters on the "Triple Word Score" square. Why don't they take advantage of that rare opportunity? This is similar to life because some people don't see opportunities as clearly as others.

There are many more ways to compare life to games - board or otherwise. But as I sit here listening to the 9-year-old and his English-teacher mother making words and arguing about where to place them, I can't help but see the similarity and smile.


Adrienne Dauma.jpgAdrienne Dauma, Bob Jones High junior