High School Individualism

I think I speak for many people when I say high school is a critical point in one’s life. Coming into high school, things seemed to be tightly-knitted between my peers and I; those of us who had just

In modern-day society, there are numerous people who take pleasure in separating themselves from the typical standards of society; however, there are also people who feel uncomfortable expressing themselves in the own, distinctive ways. Because they feel this way, many adolescents believe that by camouflaging themselves into their peer’s behaviors and beliefs that they will fit in with social norm, accepted beliefs and behaviors in a social group or society, and the reason why they have this mentality, is because of the lack of confidence to express their ideas in their own unique ways. The belief that students and kids have to live up to social norms, are implemented on them by social influences, more specifically, their peers.

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

As we go on in life we face many challenges and new situations that we deal with. A new situation that most people deal with is college and all the changes that come along with it. What many people don't realize is that high school, in many ways, is similar and differrent from college. Not only are people changing but the surroundings and work change as well. There are some things that seem to never change such as some work and people.

Entering high school from your nearby middle school, there’s going to be a handful of people. There’s going to be the ones you are confident you’re going to talk, laugh, and continue to make memories with, the ones you doubt you’ll ever speak to, and ones you have yet to ever meet. Something I learned quickly, is that there’s so many people and your connections with them change constantly and they can change you.

At college, students are often surrounded by others who are similar to them – mostly between ages of 18 and 22, pursuing a college education and beyond. The homogeneity within the campus bubble can make students forget what the real world is like.

College campuses are swarming with “new adults”, most of whom are still in their teens and are often living on their own for the very first time. They are learning how to make decisions for themselves and are figuring out who they want to become. College is designed to help them in this process. It allows them to mature and grow through experiences and trial and error. High stress, threat to one’s previous identity through failures, and

According to Bogle, dating was prominent between college students from the 1920s to the 1960s. Thereafter, college enrollment increased, making college an important place for sexual encounters (Bogle 2). Although college is a time for young adults to experiment and discover themselves, it is also a time for them to begin making smart and healthy choices, as this is generally the first time they are leaving home and living on their own. Karen Arnold argues in her article “College Student Development and the Hook Up Culture” that identity development occurs in college and consists of three components: “developing competence, moving through autonomy toward interdependence, and developing mature interpersonal relations” (Arnold 2). If one does not properly develop competency and mature interpersonal relations, one can experience

The transition from high school to college is not only an exciting and challenging time, but also a great milestone in one’s life. There are several differences between the lives of high school and college students. Some individuals will be able to jump right in and adjust to this change seamlessly, while others may take years to adapt, or never even grab hold of the whole college experience at all. High school and College are both educational grounds for a student to grow and enrich their lives with knowledge. Both are like puzzle pieces: on one side they fit together, but on the other side they are something completely

For most, growing up is an exciting time. The feeling of moving along from childhood to adulthood is often indescribable. Graduating appears to be one of the most wonderful and scary paths on the road to adulthood. According to most graduates, the best time of your life comes after high school. We are given the chance to discover and learn more about who we are in the world. For students enrolled at the abundance of universities and colleges spread across the nation, campus life marks an era of extraordinary opportunities. Unfortunately, this also creates a gap for unique risk. Almost all people are away from home for the first time and are adjusting to the to life away from the protection of their parent’s home. Often times, this could be

Hidden behind ivy-covered buildings is a system of social stratification silently propagating the next posterity of continuing-generation students. The story does not unfold in the same way for first-generation college students who, tangled in ivy, cannot free themselves long enough to experience dorms filled with students on their way to their next student club, rushing for a spot in a Greek organization sure to open a lifetime of networking opportunities, or volunteering for an organization that can lead to an internship. For some first-generation college students, the Ivory Tower is a place of isolation. It is here that social origins and cultural dispositions matter; where your chances of attaining institutionalized capital are lowered

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,

As I spent the summer of 2015 at the Governor’s School of North Carolina, located at Meredith College, I learned how to open up to different people in a new place with new possibilities. Governor’s School had a welcoming environment where both staff and students shared respect for each other. I was surrounded by people that I had never met before, but found it simple to make friendships that were strong and would last longer than the experience we shared at Governor’s School. The friendships that were made helped to transform me into an adult by sharing life experiences such as living on our own, supporting each other both personally and professionally, and sharing diverse backgrounds. Of my close friend group each of us had different areas

The mantra states “ Get out of your comfort zone.” College life as a whole is out of my comfort zone. Coming from a small private school, I had become accustomed to having almost every class with the same group of people. Being around the same group of people for a long period of time allows friendships to bloom. In college it is a rarity to see the same person in more than one of my classes. If I want to be friends with someone I really have to go out of my way to talk to them and keep in close contact with them. Another thing that private school got me accustomed to is teachers reminding me when assignments are due and always giving me a heads up. This is not the case in college, you cannot expect the teachers to remind you when an assignment is due. Sometimes the teacher will not even mention that there is an assignment due the next class. It is the student's responsibility to check the syllabus and to be

At some point, someone has said that high school will be the best four years of their lives and college gets even better. So with that idea in people’s heads, they come up with their ideal image of the college. They start planning the perfect scenario of what college they will go to and what their roommate will be like. They often try to compare an unrealistic image and turn it into a realistic image, but they are unlike in many ways. Once students step onto the college campus, they will soon face what it is actually like to be in college.When people understand that college is not the perfect movie scene, then they will take advantage of expanding and furthering their education seriously. Going to college is a whole different experience and there is a lot more to it such as the rigorous classes and overwhelming school work, being more independent, and forming new bonds with others.