Individuality is a facade and conformity is the norm. A person who is “different” is considered an outcast, undeserving of the pleasant and jocular memories associated with high school, or as some adolescents refer to it, “the best four years of their lives.” Such statements, filled with glittering generalities and hopeful testimonies, run completely opposite to my personal experiences. Although I have learned positive lessons, the overwhelming perusal and close examination of self I have had to face has become an outstanding negative consequence of high school. These repercussions primarily stem from academic performance, self-image, and overall social stratification.
I conjured the thought that if I was not academically successful, I was seemingly worthless in the race of life. Receiving a failing grade defined my absolute intellect, making me feel completely inferior to my peers. AP teachers persistently remind their students of the expectations they must reach. Parents’ criticisms rain down on their children like a hurricane; harping for not excelling, nitpicking every flaw and every point missed. Little do they know, their children have not slept in days, the thought of failure and disappointment hijacking the precious hours of sleep they so desperately need.
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Struggling to keep my head above water is a constant challenge, especially when giving up seems like a better alternative. I am exhausted, mentally drained past refueling, yet still attempting to make each day count. All I can think about is when I can finally escape high school and the accompanying pressure that is felt every time I put pen to paper. My high school academic experience has changed me, exfoliating my brain and stripping me of
There was absolutely nothing that could set me apart from the sea of designer purses, overly expensive shoes, and cherry flavored lip glosses. In high school, it seems if you weren’t marginalized into a group or follow the status quo you were seen as the misfit. One day, I experienced an epiphany in the back of my Government class, I wasn’t content with the illusion of the perfect teen. I had acceptable grades, I was well liked by most of my student body; however, I couldn’t come to the terms that I neglected what really mattered to me. At home my family would describe me with words such as: “eclectic, unique and remarkable.”, but at school I conformed into a person with a lackluster personality. I reckon that college is a place where each student is not the same and has the ability to be their true selves without being judged. This being, another reason why I respect your institution on the importance of accepting different cultures and
High school High school is a very crucial part of everybody’s life filled with many learning moments and also times that most would like to never redo. This being said we all go through this time and we can all relate to the stereotypes that come along with high school. Some were on the top and others were on the bottom, but everyone had their specific place.
In ‘Abolish high school’ by Rebecca solnit, she writes “High school is often considered a definitive American experience, in two senses: an experience that nearly everyone shares, and one that can define who you are, for better or worse, for the rest of your life.” which means high school isn’t wonderful for many people, it has a lot of challenges for teens and some of them may be ‘kill’ by pressure, it would effect your rest of life. The high school is not a wonderful place for everyone. People should skip it and escaped it don’t be suffered by it. However i disagree with her, because i believe high school is a wonderful and kindly for everyone. It is a place for teen to meeting friends and a place to learning. I believe the environments would definitive teens who they are. For example, the parents is most important for kid, they would shape everyone’s identity, make you more stronger to face challenge. For example, in my childhood, when i was lived with my parents, i was
Every public school lunch room is filled with many tables, every day these tables are the perfect place for a student to find where they “belong”. Like Beverly Daniel Tatum states in “Why Are all the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?”, part of the social groups forming in high schools goes to thank adolescents. Tatum writes, “As children enter adolescence, they begin to explore the question of identity, asking ‘Who am I?’ ‘Who can I be?’”(375). At this point in their life everyone begins to see their own interests and hobbies that makes them a little different than others. Because students are starting to realize their differences, in modern day high schools there are many social groups that students can identify with and feel the most comfortable being themselves.
The adolescent years are the hardest years lived by everyone. Hormones are raging out of control and thoughts of self doubt are present on your mind at every second. You spend majority of your time enclosed a facility with other teenagers all experiencing the same discomfort. That’s right: high school. HIgh school for me was the final stage in metamorphosis to adulthood. Beginning my my high school career in a brand new school with no familiar faces or friends was a first. For the first time, I was alone. I spent lunches and alone and had no one to work with. At first, it was all so terrifying, borderline embarrassing! But later, despite being by myself, I stopped feeling alone. My focus later stopped circulating around the fact that I was
High School culture has changed since the “old days.” Students from all grades are not only striving for academic success, but also participate in many extracurricular activities as outside forces continue to impact social life. With this comes the typical struggles of students figuring out who they are, and what kind of person they want to become as college becomes a daunting factor.
Willa Cather's "Paul's Case," displays the conflict between conformity and individuality through the main character, Paul. On a number of occasions, Paul is forced to lie and steal to escape the conformists who wish to control him and stifle his unique imagination. However, his lying, stealing, and attempts to escape the conformists, only force Paul into isolation, depression, and feeling a sense of shame for his individuality. Throughout the story one might see Cather's constant contrast of individuality versus conformity, as well as Paul's lying and stealing. Cather seems to draw the conclusion that extreme individuals, much like Paul are simply misunderstood, and not offered the acceptance they desire
At first glance high school seems to be a fun and relaxed time. A time that you get to hang out with friends and participate in extracurricular activities. Some of your most treasured memories will be made in high school. However, high school is a cruel and unforgiving place. In high school individuals get judged by their appearance, the way they act, and who they hang out with.
Coming to terms with this reality was difficult because for the first time in awhile, I was alone in a crowd full of fastidious teenagers. However, I eventually found myself being rooted in the many exuberant qualities of being in such a judge mental high school.
"There is a time in every man's education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide; that he must take himself for better, for worse, as his portion.” As human beings, we always encounter the critical decision in our daily lives of whether to pursue individuality or conformity in various situations. Although I believe that individuality is certainly more powerful than conformity, I noticed that many ignore the necessity of harmony between individualism and conformity. If individuality is absolutely more powerful to the point that we should never accept conformity, then should we avoid conforming to the laws of our country and instead commit multiple crimes simply because we want to? On the other
Many individuals is faced with the decision of conforming or choosing personal desire, and it is not an easy decision. It is hard because being shunned by others for being different is not a good feeling. Choosing to conform over personal desire, often leads to loss. On the other hand, personal desire is what sets others apart and gives them joy. In the poem, “The Jackhammer Syndrome”, Al Purdy discusses the good and bad memories he has experienced. He goes through his memories of when he had fun and made mistakes, but he reflects on what he could have done better. The author of “The Jackhammer Syndrome informs against choosing the welcoming joy of conformity over the long-term gains of personal desire. Making the decision to pursue conformity over personal desire may seem easy at first, but if the choice is to conform, the joy it gives will not last. Making the decision to pursue conformity over personal desire Conformity may seem to give joy at first, but it does not last. When Al is playing pool with his brother, he wants to win badly, but losses. However when he did not care to win, Al wins! Conforming can lead to loss but personal desire has much to gain. If the choice is to conform, personal identity may be lost. In my life, I recognize several instances in which I found several similarities between Al and myself. I have made decisions that were not always good ones such as swimming across long distances with friends.
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
America is famous for the reputation of being the land of opportunity, and for generations immigrants have fled to the United States to experience the freedom and equality our government lays claim to. The fundamental of this reputation is the American Dream, the belief that life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each by hard working regardless of social class or circumstances of birth(by James Truslow Adams). The American Dream is different for everyone, though it is most commonly associated with success, freedom, and happiness. The concept of the American Dream seems to have dwindled from where it was in the past few generations. It has gone from success, freedom,
Walking into school on my first day of high school, I felt out of place. My face covered in acne, my teeth covered in braces, and the callicks in my hair stuck up through the abnormally thick layer of hair gel that coated them. My middle school social anxiety still ruled over me as I could barely speak with any member of the opposite sex. Yet, I still had an odd confidence about me. I had always been one of the best students in my class, even without ever studying for a test. I viewed high school as a slight uptick from the curriculum I had easily passed in middle school. I was wrong. High school exists as a microcosm of society, in which I originally failed to acclimate myself to the challenges posed to me in a setting of increased
In modern culture, societal views on individuality are vastly effecting the new generation of people. Individualism, emphasizes the ability for one's morals to be independent from society. Many who express individuals tend to dismiss the status-quo, as they recognize their self worth and the capability to realize it is acceptable to be different. Meanwhile, others who may struggle to determine their individualism, tend to struggle with figuring out who they are and why they are special in society. Society creates sources of criteria that enables stereotypes that reducing one's ability to become an individual. Society also creates ideals of who you should become in society which tends to be similar to your peers around you. Although there are people who are accepted by society who express enormous amounts of individualism, the overall impact of society tends to hinder one's role as an individual in the community due to requirements that society has created.