EVERYONE experiences high school differently. Some love it,some hate it, and some are just doing time. Here are some examples of how rules, restrictions and realities play out in high schools around the country. Take a good look and see if you recognize your own high school experience.
What I remember best about high school?
Not fitting in. Having so-called friends I could
never trust. Having a chip on my shoulder about
a mile high. Not feeling visible except for all the
wrong things, like being fat or not having the
right clothes. Humiliation on a regular basis.
Having people use me or avoid me. Having the people
I needed support from simply
tell me what they thought was best for me or
how my behavior, grades or looks affected
them. Having teachers I hated and teachers I
loved, and feeling like I would have done anything
for any adult who treated me with the
least bit of dignity and respect for my intelligence.
Counting days until graduation. Calculating daily,
once I got accepted into the college of my choice,
exactly how much or how well I had to do just to pass the classes I didn’t like.
The glorious elation when they gave me that stupid little piece of paper. It says
something like “diploma” on it, but for me it still reads, “Free at Last.”
—Beverly
Well, I despise today fairly
vehemently, and it’s only 11 A.M.
Isn’t that some sort of a record?
Technically, it’s the first day of
school, but it’s just assembly, registration
and a bunch of papers
from homeroom. Tomorrow
classes begin. I’m feeling pretty
down right now. I’ve come to
the conclusion that no matter where
you go, really, high school is quintessentially
the same: It’s typical in all the same ways; it’s frustrating
in all the same ways; it’s scary in all the same ways;
it’s good in all the same ways . . . although not so much of the latter
for me since I’ve been here. Yet at the same time, life can differ so much
from one school to another. Don’t ask me how that works—I haven’t come
close to figuring it out.
School’s gone from
being a place of education to
a place where competition and
fighting for the top come before
learning. We have to deal with the continual
pressure to keep up the pace, stay
in the game, be the best at all times, never
settle for less than the ultimate. . . . It’s
exhausting for a teen to always be fighting.
Fighting grades, teachers, other
people’s attitudes, society . . .
the list just goes on.
—Katie, 18
I’ve been to three high schools in four years,
and I’m tired. I’m tired of being new; I’m tired
of never being surrounded by anyone of my
caliber; I’m tired of “giving it a chance”
and “making the best of the situation;”
I’m tired of most people my age; I’m
tired of this country; I’m definitely tired of
being tired of all the above, and the worst
part, actually caring. But I am, and I do, and
I hate it.
I’ve said it many times before, and damn it, I’m going to say it again.
High school: Call me when it’s over.
—Rachelle, 17
The summer before I started high
school, a lot of people told me, “Oh,
you’re just going to love it. It will be
some of the best years of your life!”
I didn’t really believe this,
because, honestly, if you peak when
you’re about sixteen, that’s pretty
pathetic. I did think I’d have a good
time, though. I thought that it would
be just like junior high, except more kids,
and kids that were four years older than me.
High school can be a
blast for some kids. But if it
sucks for you, you are not alone.
I thought everybody in my school
was a lot happier than I was.
That really wasn’t true, but I
didn’t know that at the time.
—Clare
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