Did you care about high school? Then and now...

[Lieutenant Dan]

When you went to high school, did you care about your grades? If you didn't care, why? Do you now regret not doing better?

I went to high school 1981-1985 in a small town, about 600+ students in my whole school. I remember that most of my teachers were good, and I liked a lot of them. There were a few not so good ones, of course.

This was before curriculums were so focused on standardized testing, too.

Anyway, for me.....I never failed a subject and always did all of my classwork and homework. I was a 'C' student in 9th and 10th grades, then I woke up and gave a damn in 11th and 12th grades and was a 'B' student the rest of the way.

High school was fun the last couple of years and I got more involved socially with the school paper, sports, band and being a DJ. I think all of these things helped me focus in 11th and especially 12th grade. I should also note I never hated school, but I never enjoyed studies either.

Now I'm a father of five highly-intelligent kids who went through the current high school system. Pretty much all five of them had issues with a few teachers either being incompetent or intolerable, and all of them got through with average, 'C' type GPAs. They always had our support, and we had their backs in any case that justified it. The kids also felt that some of what was being presented was nonsense in school, and too much focus on the standardized tests and not enough on the actual subjects.

What say you all? Are/were you motivated, and by what? What is the most aspect of high school studies? Is it the school's fault you didn't do better, or your fault for not doing enough? Do you feel you got a decent education out of it?

[Redacted01]

Re: Did you care about high school? Then and now...

I was valedictorian in a class of 360 students. Got my college paid for, mostly, since I went out of state. I never really had problems with it. Looking back, there was quite a bit of busy work for some classes, but once I got to AP classes in junior and senior year, that was gone mostly. The standardized tests also disappeared by junior year in my county. I did band for 4 years which helped when it came to college. Losing 10+ hours a week to band practice got me to used to losing time on homework.

I'd say I got a decent education out of it and the benefits definitely gave me options in college. If I had been a B or C student, I would have been going locally and possibly living at home... I needed a break. I never struggled in college at all, all the way through my master's. But I also never really had to work that hard. I knew some students that had to pull all-nighters almost weekly at times and I never pulled a single one.

I'm the exception, not the rule. I have hit my wall now though. After 6 years of college, I'm tired of it. Now to get a job... if only that went as smoothly as high school.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: Did you care about high school? Then and now...

I viewed HS as a nuisance that I was forced to go through. There was about 450 in my entire school. School and tests were always simple for me. I was the kid that partied hard and got all A's. I don't know how I survived in one piece to be honest.

Just like everything, there was a bell curve of a few great teachers, a bunch of average teachers, and a few that were just there collecting a paycheck.

With dwindling enrollment, I'm sure my HS really sucks now.

[NYJets]

Re: Did you care about high school? Then and now...

Middle school I totally lost interest in school and did absolutely nothing, and that carried over into I'd say 1.5 years of high school. After that I started to care more, but I was still happy with getting B's and maybe occasionally an A here or there, when I was definitely smart enough to get A's and to be in honors and AP classes.

I regret it in the sense that if I went back I would definitely work harder because I have a better work ethic now and take more pride in things I do. Though I will say I don't think it would really change my life today, I still got into the school I wanted to go to...though barely, I was wait listed even though my SAT's were I think 40 points higher than the average for that college. And I didn't feel overwhelmed or anything in college.

I'm not going to say it was the school's fault I didn't do as well as I could, ultimately it was me being lazy. But now that I'm getting into teaching and I've seen some more successful schools, I definitely think the school played into my lack of motivation.

[24]

Re: Did you care about high school? Then and now...

I am a recent high school graduate and now that I'm in college I kind of regret putting so much effort into it. I was a A- Student, captain of the debate team, played in all 3 school bands, and founded a barbershop quartet which still exists to this day. My entire rationale was that If I did all of this work and extracurriculars that I would get into my dream college. I didn't and I am now at a local college which isn't all that bad.

However because I devoted so much time to all these school activities, I didn't have much of a social life. Sure I had a few friends and went out on the odd occasion but I could have done so much more.

[cavsfan2]

Re: Did you care about high school? Then and now...

Well I'm in high school now, and i care alot. Mostly because I got through my "I don't give a crap" phas in middle school. I found that not giving a crap gave me alot of free time, but I was not happy because I was so stressed, because as much as I wanted not to care, I did. Now I'm in junior year on first honor Roll and starting PG on my varsity basketball team. So right now I'm having alot of fun, even though free time is limited.

[Lieutenant Dan]

Re: Did you care about high school? Then and now...

Well I'm in high school now, and i care alot. Mostly because I got through my "I don't give a crap" phas in middle school. I found that not giving a crap gave me alot of free time, but I was not happy because I was so stressed, because as much as I wanted not to care, I did. Now I'm in junior year on first honor Roll and starting PG on my varsity basketball team. So right now I'm having alot of fun, even though free time is limited.

Compelling post, especially the conundrum of the bolded part.

Also what 24 said resonated with me...about working really hard, but missing out on social life. I've often thought about this attending so many graduations and seeing these high-honor kids and ALL they accomplished, but wondering if they had friends?

[55]

Re: Did you care about high school? Then and now...

I went to the same high school as Warren Sapp and Zack Greinke: Apopka High School. There were over 3,000 students there when I went and it was a lot more fun than it was educational. I dropped out halfway through my junior year and have no regrets.

EDIT- I was enrolled from 1994-97.

[Kriech23]

Re: Did you care about high school? Then and now...

My high school graduating class was around 300. Some people really took their grades to heart. I remember there was a difference of like .003 between the valedictorian and salutatorian. The day we found out, the runner-up left school crying.

I was an A student that played sports and partied regularly in high school. I showed up to class and did the work. It really wasn't that tough. Now in college, I pretty much do the same thing.

[ERA]

Re: Did you care about high school? Then and now...

I am currently in high-school (yes I'm young) and I take it very seriously. It is the key to your future and it makes you who you are physically and mentally. If it wasn't for school, I wouldn't be as responsible as I am today, as well as I never would be. Yeah, I don't like school, in fact I hate it, but soon it will be over and if you don't take it seriously it will take affect in your life sooner or later.

P.S.
I went to middle-school with Shabazz Muhammad.

[Phobia]

Re: Did you care about high school? Then and now...

I personally didn't treat highschool like you should. I partied to much, drank to much, and didn't treat my grades correctly. I managed to BS my way through and finish with a 2.5 GPA and 22 on my ACT. Which luckily got me into college.

My school was huge with 2,000 students, we had 700+ seniors when I graduated. I was there from 1996-2000.

I LOVED highschool though, was some of the best 4 years of my life. Ohhhh the girls

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Did you care about high school? Then and now...

High school is one of those things where if I had to do it over I wouldn't focus so much on the scholastic issues and my "future" and just enjoy the last 4 years of care-free, easy-riding life. As a naive teenager that knew I wanted to go to college I bought into the whole "map your life plan NOW or you're ****ed" mindset that "guidance" counselors and admin. like to spew on occasions throughout the year.

Of course if I had the choice I wouldn't go back. It was enjoyable, but whenever I think about high-school that last Randal Pink Floyd quote about "the best 4 years" floats into my mind.

[23]

Re: Did you care about high school? Then and now...

I did care and actually graduated with honors. I went to a local college prep high school and mostly had friends that cared as well.

Most of the group of friends I had that carried over from middle school all went to the military, starting off in the reserves. I had a rough time after high school because my mom died before I could figure out what i wanted to do exactly, but I realized too that with all of that caring, they still never really taught me to live in the real world as it was, as much as they did the regular read, write, behaviour stuff.

[Lieutenant Dan]

Re: Did you care about high school? Then and now...

Great posts, guys....keep it up and thank you for posting.

Another observation that I have is that these days, at least in my kids' schools, they seem to place a HEAVY emphasis on college prep. Do you or did you feel over-pressured by this?

[ImTellinTim]

Re: Did you care about high school? Then and now...

Great posts, guys....keep it up and thank you for posting.

Another observation that I have is that these days, at least in my kids' schools, they seem to place a HEAVY emphasis on college prep. Do you or did you feel over-pressured by this?

Not really. There were a couple different paths available in my school. You could do a lot of stuff with vocational studies. They had building trades where the class would literally build a house for a family in town over the school year. If you wanted to go to college there were resources to help you apply and scholarships available for that too.