Conversation : Static V. Charismatic

Unfortunately, part of my high school learning experience has been learning from my mistakes. During my sophomore year, I was put on a five day suspension from school because I failed a random drug test for marijuana. When this happened, it seemed as if my life stopped and ended. My parents were shocked, my teachers were shocked, and even I would have been shocked a few weeks before this happened. Going into tenth grade, my reputation at my high school was that of a quiet student with great integrity and that is how I had been perceived my whole life. As being looked upon as an introverted person I was always encouraged to interact with new people and make new friends. I did just that but then found myself associating with the wrong type of

Students in the classroom come from a variety of backgrounds. Their lives are shaped by their families, their communities, but also their peers in school whom they will spend hours a day with throughout their educational career. The ability to form relationships with others, to create lasting friendships that grow and evolve with time, is detrimental to all children and their development. Lacking the ability to do so, whether it is directly because of their conditions or because of how other students perceive them, can dramatically harm them emotionally and mentally.

In Kindergarten, you become friends with people who have the same kind of markers as you, or the kid that has your favorite power ranger on their shirt. You actually have things in common, you do not become friends with them just because you think they are “popular.” As the years go on this theory starts to diminish. Unlike Kindergarten you start to differentiate between the kids who are “popular” and the kids who want to be “popular.” Most of the time the kids who are popular actually do not have that much in common with each other. They put on these fake personas to make it look like they are all perfect and have so much in common. When in reality they are all strangers to each other. Over this past year, I have learned that I really do not have anything in common with half of my friends. I did not realize it because we were always suppose to be friends, thats just how it went. Growing up we were always considered the “in crowd,” and so we all just kind of stayed together

Making friends on U.S. campuses could be challenging for those who are an international students. It’s not easy to make friends with American students because they tend to be independent and keep distance from others. In Rebekah Nathan’s book “My Freshman Year”, Nathan claims that social life and developing friendships on U.S. campuses is difficult for international students because American students would make them feel uncomfortable and invisible at times. Nathan’s argues that American students don’t put any effort in talking to students from different race, ethnic, and background. International students are usually on their own or be with their friends since Americans wouldn’t make friends with them. In nathan’s book, she discusses about the

When I first come here, it is tough for me to make friends because all of the students here come from different backgrounds. I managed to overcome that problem by engaging with the clubs’ activities and participating in volunteering programs. I improved my self-confidence by make a lot of friends from day to day. This gives me a good impression that being in a wonderful college like Bunker Hill Community College really helps students to build themselves by brushing up their potentials. By connecting with people every day and knowing others, we can brush up our communication skills as well as widen our knowledge. Based from these experiences, I promised to myself to help the new students adapting themselves in the new world attracting them to get involved with clubs, activities and volunteering

Cliches, common at most high schools, often categorize and exclude students with unique interests and talents for being “weird”. Whereas, at St. John’s students genuinely appreciate the unique gifts present in each of their fellow classmates. Encouraged to feel compassion for fellow classmates and others, Prep student learn the benefits of considering the needs of others and helping were needed. As such, no one should feel alone at the prep with the support of their brothers ever present. Starting at a new school can be terrifying, especially when it comes to finding a group to sit with at lunch. While at lunch with his friends, one student noticed a boy sitting alone. He asked the boy to sit with them, and from that simple compassionate gesture, a close friendship developed. At the Prep students develop a network of friends within the community, a network not restrained by the boundaries of a cliche, but instead as diverse as their individual interests. Friends who celebrate each other's success and support each other’s needs, friends who will be present and who will not

The school year approached its end. Another summer to spend alone by myself. The cycle had been repeating since I was in grade school. Sadness choked me as I returned home and shut my door. Every year, the resolution was the same: I would try to make friends next year; however, every year, I felt myself falling back down into the same trap. By the time high school began, I no longer felt the numb sensation of sadness or the flow of tears as the final day of May became the last day I talked with my “friends.” I no longer expected to make any friends, or, more accurately, I no longer expected to be able to make any friends. The sheer possibility of befriending an individual appeared to me as foreign as speaking in latin. When I walked into school, what should have been a site of chatter, opportunity, and growth appeared to me as a form of imprisonment and torture; however, unbeknownst to me, I did have friends; something of which I did not recognize until years passed by. I grown attached to certain conversations; there were times where I felt the need to initiate a conversation rather than waiting for someone else to make one. It was not until one of my friends told me,”We’re your friends aren’t we?” when I realized I was not longer

In the famous movie, “The Breakfast Club,” we see how five teenagers, each a member of a different high school clique, spends a Saturday in detention together and realize that they are all more than their respective stereotypes. High school cliques determine who, what and where students belong. The typical high school has "cliques"; which are groups of students with similar interests that hang out together. When looking at what really goes on in the average high school, and how friendships are formed, it is amazing. When observing the jock, the nerd and the popular kids, one must wonder where they fit in and how these groups will affect the future.

In addition, this only creates patterns of inclusion and exclusion, which demonstrates the creation of peer and social cliques. These types of students avoid others

If even 50% of students adopted this view, the social aspect in schools could radically change. Yes, it can be hard to enact such a large social change such as this one so quickly, but personally, I intend on keeping my eyes open when it comes to relationships with my friends and fellow classmates. I want to be the person that welcomes anyone and includes them whether it be at college, activities, or my future job. Cliques aren’t only formed in school, but anyplace that people congregate. Cliques are not acceptable when they reject others.

No one wants to feel invisible or have a constant fear they will embarrass themselves just simply by speaking. In the United States today, even with our say-anything society, many people struggle with these exact worries on a day-today basis. Social anxiety is a disorder that many, even doctors, write off as having shy or introverted qualities. Despite the lack of knowledge and awareness for the disorder, social anxiety is a growing problem in our country and around the world.

The students who do not adapt and choose to abstain are immediately labeled negatively. By choosing not to participate in the universal activity on campus, these students limit their social life. This is a tremendous sacrifice. College supposedly represents the best years a person’s of life. No one wants to miss out due to being perceived as overwrought and uptight. For this reason,

What if everyone sat alone for lunch, each company did not interact with other businesses, and everyone lived a life of solitude? During college, learning to interact with others plays a large role in shaping the individual. College life provides many opportunities for a student to become involved with others. This socialization can result in a person gaining many benefits, including preparation for the work world. Social development helps a student to meet new people as well as making a person aware of the diversity on a college campus like Saint Peter’s. Human traits have evolved because of the influence that our surroundings exert upon us. The manner in which a person socializes in his or her

I avoid talking at school because I don’t want people to think I am annoying. I have been told that my voice is annoying and I don’t want to irritate people so I just keep quiet for the most part. I want to be “that girl” who is outgoing, confident and people want to talk to her… but instead I have a handful of friends and stay quiet. People avoid talking to me and no one reaches out to me since I unknowingly give off an ‘avoid me’ vibe because I am so scared of being outgoing and consequently irritating people. Internally, I am very social, caring and have a sense of humor, but I am too scared to be myself so I have decided it’s better to just be overlooked.

As a child I had a difficult time connecting with other people. I had many acquaintances but few friends and for a long time I was alright with this fact. It was not until freshman year of high school that I finally noticed my problem of being unsocial. There were two resources that made me aware of this and both helped me to become a more socially active person.