Life After High School Reflection

Life After High School Reflection

In the article, “Life After High School” by Annie Murphy Paul, it explains that when growing up things will change from high school though in the end actions in high school will determine how life will later be. The article is a cliche in itself and gives itself a sense of irony. In the article, it writes about how being an outsider in high school might not be the ideal situation, but can lead to success. Paul receives statements from the author Alexandra Robbins, who wrote the book The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth. In a statement Robbin says, “Many of the differences that cause a student to be excluded in schools are the identical traits or real-world skill that others will value, love, respect or find compelling about that person in

adulthood the schools setting” (Robbin).

Robbin explains how leading a life as someone as an outsider in high school can be more beneficial in the “real world.” The author uses the phrase “real-world” as though high school does not count as some experience in your life. The article also explains how most people are designated into a clique and will be based on that in later life. It conforms groups to stereotype themselves based on their action and enjoyments. Paul writes, “Namely: high school as a formative life experience, as social as it is academic, in which students encounter a jostling bazaar of potential identies-- jock to prep to geek-- and choose (or are assigned) one that will stay with them for years to come” (Paul). The article seems to be outdated on the way it classifies people into categories as though they were not allowed to integrate or not to fit into the ideals of social norms. The classification groups are later being stereotyped in its outcome in life. The article says, “Broadly speaking, the brainy grinds and the glad-handing class class officers achieve success as adults. The jocks are fitter and in better health. The outcasts and droupouts are most

likely to be depressed and unemployed. The kids who drank and smoked pot under the bleachers are mostly still drinking and doping, sometimes to excess” (Paul). The article makes people confined into one group and one outcome. They make it seem as though when you grow older after high school you will act the same as you were then. The article makes it seem as though people don’t change as they grow older and how they cannot expand their willingness to try new things or willingness to expand themselves into a new horizon of reality. The article motivates people in a cheesy manner as many medias are doing in this age. Robbin states, “There is nothing wrong with you just because you haven’t yet met people who share your interests or outlook in life” (Paul). Robbin and like many other parts in this article is very biased. Robbin says you will be only successful as an outsider which is also a term that could have different meanings to others. Paul writes how when you are popular you are not as liked as it may be perceived and going through life you will not be as successful as the outsiders in the school. In conclusion, Annie Paul wrote about the outcome of life from the actions from high school influencing it in a biased and ironic way, that made people classify themselves into categories and stereotypes through the thought of no later development in one's’ character.