I've spent the past several Sunday Mornings with a group of our graduating Seniors talking transitions and next steps. One of the Sundays, we did a little exercise where I asked them to share one "Overrated" and one "Underrated" aspect in High School.
Overrated - Got really hyped up in their own mind or by others, and wasn't all that was expected.
Underrated - Didn't get hyped in the way it should have, because it was significant in the High School experience.
Here's what was picked followed by my paraphrase of some of the thoughts they shared...
UNDERRATED:
Overrated - Got really hyped up in their own mind or by others, and wasn't all that was expected.
Underrated - Didn't get hyped in the way it should have, because it was significant in the High School experience.
Here's what was picked followed by my paraphrase of some of the thoughts they shared...
UNDERRATED:
- Parents - the drama and conflict wasn't as bad as expected, and they are the most influential people in our life to this point.
- Teachers - the right ones made High School great. The wrong ones made it misreable.
- Marching Band - It was tough, and taught some incredible life lessons.
- Curfews - Made me disciplined in my sleep habits, and I think I stayed out of some trouble because I had one.
- "Drama" - Gossip, he said/she said, etc. is stupid, but it had a huge effect on me.
- Price of Lunch - It was such a good deal!
- Youth Group - It was so key in keeping me focused and encouraged.
- Summer Camp - I can't figure out why people choose to practice a sport or do other things instead of making this a priority.
- Rules of Parents
- Extra Curricular Activities - The time and emotional commitment and huge, and they really take a toll on you.
OVERRATED:
- Sports - A lot of stuff revolved around them, and I'm not sure they're that big of a deal.
- Writing In Cursive - They said it was so important, and I never use it!
- Senior Year (5 different students) - It was built up like it would be the greatest thing ever, and in the end, I think it was just another year.
- Basketball/ Football Season - Such a big deal made about showing school spirit, and coming out and supporting your team. It was taken way too seriously.
- Academic Excellence - If I learned it, isn't that all that should matter?
- Calculus - Am I going to use any of that stuff?
- Staying Up Late - All that happens is you wake up tired.
- Prom - The before and after stuff were a lot of fun, but the prom itself was really boring.
3 comments:
It'd be interesting to see who wrote that band was underrated because it is usually heavily focused on by people in band who commit more hours than most athletes.
Many of our students think extra curriculars are overrated...mostly b/c they are involved in to many and so none of them are really impactful. They turn into "looking good for college applications."
Curious, who said high school sports was overrated. Were they the athletes?
I thought my senior year was amazing...but I agree that most of my students are tired of it plus the focus on a career and college in 8th or 9th grade has made kids enjoy high school less, in my opinion.
It would be interesting to compare answers based on kids:
-extravert/intravert personalities
-spiritual health
-church involvement
-teens who had part-time jobs
I'll check with my seniors...
As someone now over ten years removed from my senior year of high school, I would almost say that "high school friendships" are overrated. That sounds cruel, but I challenge most adults (at least eight years after high school) to think about how much time they actually spend NOW communicating with people they went to high school with (not counting those who happened to be your college roommates or now are co-workers with you)? Sure, you may have one or two people you talk to regularly, but if you're honest about it, how many would you still be in contact with more than twice a year if it weren't for Facebook?
The point that I make to kids when I talk to them about that is to not let your high school friends have such a huge influence in your decisions when the chances are very high that they're not going to be around to share the consequences with you in the future. Don't let your peers pressure you into making stupid choices when you're going to be hard-pressed even five years later to be able to name the five guys who started on the varsity basketball team...or who the homecoming queen was...or which twenty kids ended up going to prom together without inviting you to ride in the stretch Hummer with them. It's just not worth it.
Your high school friends CAN be a tremendous blessing and source of support to you, and kids should be encouraged to make great friends of noble character -- no one wants to be completely alone in high school, either. Just realize that breaking dating relationships or friendships with people or peer groups who are no good for you in high school is NOT the end of the world. Live for the things that WILL remain forever (your character...your relationship with Christ...your willingness to help the "underdogs"...etc.) and not for things that will be lost and forgotten just a few years down the road.
Great post, Derry! Loved it
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