Scrolling Saturdays
It’s time once again to bring back an old, dusty post to be revived for Scrolling Saturdays.
Here’s one from the beginning of the school year. Since the kids are on the downhill slide of their respective freshmen adventures it seemed appropriate to bring this one back. (Two more weeks and high school is done for the summer.) The college kid gets done with finals Monday and is heading back home that afternoon.
From Aug. 17, 2007 – Back to School – NOT!
I spent the better part of an hour roaming the halls of N’ville High School last night. It was freshmen orientation and I was there to meet my son’s new teachers and pick up supply lists. He was there to find where all his classes and locker were. We were both amazed how many people could pack into those halls.
I don’t think I could live through high school again. There is too much pressure to be in the right clique, wear the right clothes, say the right things and impress the right people.
Fortunately, for my son none of that seems to matter to him. He has his group of friends he likes to hang out with and doesn’t worry about whether they are part of the “in crowd,” and he’s never been much of a clotheshorse.
His sister was an athlete, playing soccer all four years she was in school. Athletes have their own special set of rules to live by. He is a non-conformer. If he and his sister had been in high school together, they would have probably avoided each other, and not just because they were siblings.
My husband and I found that would have been true of us too. We didn’t meet until we were in college, but have since decided that as high school teens, we would not have run in the same crowds. Most likely, we would have made fun of each other – one a jock, one a geek. I’ll leave it a mystery, as to which was which.
Now, it’s not just going to class, trying to get good grades while staying under the teacher’s radar, it’s networking. It’s trying to decide if your friendships are real or just conveniences. It’s making sure you are wearing the right labels or going to the right places. Not that movie theater, but this one. Can’t shop at the old mall; have to meet at the new one. Heaven forbid you should eat a hamburger at fast food A instead of B. It’s too much to worry about.
It may be faulty memory, but I don’t remember high school as being that much work. I went to class, read that book, proved that angle, went from point A to point B. I went cruising with my friends, watched Saturday Night Live when it was really funny, and went to football games on Fridays.
High school today simply has too much drama. I would never survive.
I’m still surrounded by people that believe they’re still in highschool. It’s ridiculous.
[Tara R.] Maria… I feel the same say sometimes. I just don’t need all the whining and drama. Just grow up!
Great post, Tara! I don’t think I could survive high school again either (heck, I barely did the first time, without all the drama!)! Happy Saturday!
[Tara R.] Stacey… I was almost completely under the radar in high school. I had a close group of friends, but was by no stretch of the imagination in the popular crowd. I know I wouldn’t have it through HS if I was.
Nope. Wouldn’t want to do it again. Once was definitely enough!
[Tara R.] Angela… One time is absolutely enough. I’m having a hard time getting through it again with my kids.
I’m with Maria – I see a lot of high-schoolish activity to this day! And, yes, I’ve got my own clique at work…but the people I don’t let in are the ones who are complete morons that have nothing to add to a conversation. Yeah, it’s still wrong, but I still don’t care
[Tara R.] April… My office is small, but we have a very disproportionate amount of HS-ish drama. It gets old really quick.
i hated it then. i would hate it now.
i loved being in college though. that was a huge difference to me. when i chose college, i wanted it bad and nobody was forcing me and i earned honor grades. and it all felt good to me. yes, i wanted those college degrees bad and nothing would stand in the way. i did not care about what people thought of me by the time i chose to place college in the goals of my life.
but high school … urgh … felt like torture to me that i wanted to escape.
i thought you were a rockstar. i didn’t see that choice. i only saw jock and geek choices. of course you were the rockstar. YOU, my dear, are awesome. congrats on the tourny wins today!!! you rooooock! beany bear
[Tara R.] Beany… rock star no… groupie, yes! College was way more fun.
I like high school because it was not at home but I was lucky to avoid most of the drama (well, except I was in the drama club). My oldest was wise enough to avoid the drama as well. She learned early on boyfriends are too much work and girls that have boyfriends have no time for you anymore. She has a few close friends (boys and girls) and they just all hang out with no drama.
[Tara R.] Sexy… my daughter also had a close group of friends. Not much drama for her there either. My son is just starting in HS but has managed to stay away from all that too. But, the daughter would tell me about boyfriend troubles her friends had… silly stuff. I’m glad she stayed out of it.
I asked myself all the time, “Why is the heck am I teaching HIGH SCHOOL?” Personally, I did not enjoy high school. I didn’t hate it. But I would have rather been anywhere else.
And drama . . .
Even as a teacher, on the outside looking in (reluctantly), the drama was exhausting. Now, I just try to AVOID it at all costs in every aspect of my life.
[Tara R.] LaskiGal… I didn’t even think about how being a HS teacher you would have a front row seat to all of that craziness. That’s probably one of the biggest things you won’t miss about teaching.
i tried to leave this on the buzz site, but buzz wouldn’t take my comment.
good morning tourny winner! raw rah raw you rawk! i have been having fun visiting chalkboy’s bloggy. thanks for sharing it. i accidentally went crazy and left too many comments on that one post you pointed me to. hehe. hope your day is yummy nice. my back is acting up! ouch! take care girlie, beany!
[Tara R.] Beany… what’s a little bloggy craziness between friends? Thanks for the congrats. It was as small tourney, but was lots of fun.
HIgh school drama at work? Oh, the stories I could tell…
[Tara R.] Chalk… I’ve been reading about some… having a teacher’s point of view must be almost surreal at times.
You have totally just busted a theory my husband and I had. We believed all great couples would have been in the same clique in high school regardless of when they met later in life. He and I were both geeks in schools hours and hours apart. Maybe there is something to that whole, “opposites attract thing. ”
Great post~
[Tara R.] C.Momma… me and hubs most definitely would not have hung out together in HS. Now, his sister and I could have been great pals. I was too much of a wild child for him.
your cuz’s blog is a riot! did you see “what did he just say?”? i am still laughing hard over that one — that gave me no breather laughing! thanks for pointing out his blog. i have enjoyed this so much these last couple days
nighty night TARa.
**tucking you in for the night**
beany bear
[Tara R.] Beany… I really appreciate everyone visiting over there. I told you guys he was funny… must run in the family.
I agree 100%. I would never want to go back and do that all again. College I would definitely do again though!
[Tara R.] Melinda… exactly! HS no! College yes!
my husband and i would have NEVER known each other in high school!! besides the fact that he is older than me…we would have been in COMPLETELY different crowds!! he was a total burn out and i was NOT!
if i was who i am today, i would have done great in high school but i wouldn’t want to do it over again! i would survive but i worry about the other students!! i have kind of a big mouth now!!
xoxoxo
[Tara R.] Melissa… Hubs and I were complete opposites when we were in HS, and wouldn’t have met in college if it weren’t for our roommates. They set us up on a blind date. We’ve been together ever since.