Most students go through high school trying to just get to graduation day. They just want to pass all their classes, nothing higher. Only a small percentage of students in high school actually have the determination to excel and be above average on their own. Most people need someone to inspire them to excel. The essay "Tracking" by Mike Rose discusses how he needed someone to point out to him that he shouldn't be in Vocational classes. He put into a whole new different situation, and the classes could actually be a challenge for him. Being a mediocre student are apart of most students lives because they don't push themselves to be better. High school was not a completely dreadful experience, but I did not get a really an exceptional education. As I entered high school, I thought it would be a whole new exciting chapter in my life. I started out as an involved student, and went through all of the Advance Placement and Honor classes, and managed to be at the top 12% of my class. In high school, I basically placed myself to enjoy it; I joined all of the extra curricular activities I was interested in. I was in band, tennis, swimming, dance team, and Key Club. Sometimes I was at school for about fourteen hours a day, four times a week. Then my grades started to slip and I just began to pile myself up with school activities so I would have excuses not to do homework. I was just a mediocre student, and I did whatever I could just to get by. It was not that I did not want to do my homework, and I just found better use of my time. Whereas Rose was put in to the vocational track, because he didn't really understand. "The vocational track, however, is most often place for those who are just not making it, a dumping ground for the disaffected." He had no idea what classes he was taking; he just listened and followed directions. I was completely opposite; I went against my parents' wishes and joined band, and swimming. They wanted me to concentrate on school instead of extra curricular activities. I was the now the mediocre student who didn't have the drive to do any better then I was doing.
I envision high school as an essential stepping stone for everyone. The era where every individual lacks the complete confidence in defining who they are or what they want to be. The four years of high school was the moment and opportunity to seek the interests that stood out to me the most. The experiences you make and the people you associate with are a crucial part of finding yourself.
Rose observes that his teachers are indifferent and are not concerned with him learning the material in any way. He continues by describing his fellow peers. Rose notes several applaudable qualities about his fellow students, despite them always being lumped together as less intelligent. He wonders if their lacking want for learning is what is keeping them from excelling in school. This mindset is the one he keeps with him when his erroneous placement is corrected. Suddenly, he is expected to achieve and go beyond, something that he was completely unfamiliar with due to his time in lower level studies.
High school is meant to be the time of your life, but for most seniors just like me it can be some of the most emotional and crazy time. The things in my past make me who I am today, and the things I do now are the first footsteps into the future. I’ve learned a lot about myself in these past four years, and I still have so much learning to do. This is my high school story; the good, bad, and the ugly.
Society pushes today's youth towards higher education. The goal of grade school is to prepare the students for middle school. The goal of middle school is to prepare the students for high school. And finally the goal of high school is to prepare the students for college. The entire structure of education is to prepare youth for the next level of education. The problem with this system is that not all students are college material, as seen in the essay The Case Against College by Caroline Bird.
Throughout high school, my experience was very difficult. The past three years at Wise high school have been difficult because I have transitioned from a small school to a huge school. It seemed like staying to myself was easier. It cut out on drama and unnecessary interactions. This helped me in school because each individual person shows their culture and they express it vibrantly. Being passively social in school helps me realized that there lots of opinions and point of views. I tend to take in more than what I spit out but it's because I want to hear people out and understand where they are coming from. Throughout my art classes, the teachers help me express myself without talking. It challenges me to be more creative and imaginative.
High school did not prepare me for college at all. I didn’t even have to take any finals junior or senior year. Everything was very laid back and I felt like I had all the time in the world. My classes consisted of mainly art and band, so I didn’t have a whole lot of tough, time consuming assignments. The longest paper I have ever written was two pages. Even in my AP Calculus class everything was very laid back. I entered college with the same mindset; I thought I could handle
School now days kids like to think it is to “hard” or they don't have the motivation to keep up in school. In high school you are being taught responsibility, you learn lessons. Sometimes the hard way. As students, we should try and succeed in academics as well as doing our best to succeed in sports. Sports to some kids are there only way out. Kids that live in bad neighborhoods, kids that hardly have enough to get them by, and them are the kids that realize they need the motivation in school because high school is a big deal.
I have to admit that I will not look fondly on my high school career. I spent most of my study time going out with my friends. I felt that I was paying my dues with the eight hours of boredom that began most of my days. Until now there were only a few classes that I enjoyed. In retrospect, I believe that it was my inability to choose the classes I took which resulted in my lack of enthusiasm on the ride to school each morning.
Throughout the world, students are encouraged to attend high school and continue their education. However, many students find it worthless and become uninspired. They blame the faculty, school policies, and fellow students, when they should be blaming themselves. Unchallenging course work is most likely a sign that the student isn’t taking a hard enough course. During my high school experience, students had the opportunity to take college courses through our high school. This gave the more advanced students a chance to practice the same routine as “normal” students, but still challenge and educate themselves. Abolishing high school would not solve any problems in our educational system. There are many ways to improve upon our school system; however, we need to start at the beginning.
The purpose of a high school education is to prepare one for college and ultimately, the workforce. By the end of freshman year, in high school, the average student has learned a sufficient amount of material in enough subjects that he or she can be considered "well-rounded" in his or her studies. This is because the rate at which material is covered in schools, across the nation, has increased dramatically compared to the past. Students now learn more advanced curriculum at a younger age, and this continues to become more evident year after year. High school has now become more focused on teaching students a small amount of information on several essential subjects, rather than having them focus deeply on the subjects they seek to pursue in their career.
It seems as though the majority of college students these days aren’t looking to further their education because it’s what they really want, they do it to please their parents, to be accepted by society, or because there’s nothing else for them to do (Bird, 372). These expectations have led to students being unhappy and stressed, and have pushed them into a school or a job that they don’t particularly care for.
My High School life has helped shape the way for my college experiences that I will face. My senior year in high school is not the same as many other high school students. I am taking many advanced classes to help me prepare for college. These classes help me better understand exactly how much harder I must work to succeed.
High school has been a journey, it has built a foundation for my future. Through the sleepless nights and early mornings, I have had an opportunity to mature and step out of my comfort zone. The demand of going to school, having a job, involving myself in my community and being in a sport has all worked out for my benefit. Now the time has come to step out into the real world.
I always wanted to get good grades and challenged myself which help me get in the honor role in my two years in row, but that doesn't mean I am a perfect student. As, student going to high school can boost my confidence in the classroom and help improve my average writing skills. In Middle School, I was a part of clubs such as NJHS (National Junior Honor Society) and Service Learning, and being member of these clubs I become a well shape student overall by being optimistic and enthusiasm about school and I was given the opportunity to change the culture of my school and the community. When I am not doing school work, I enjoy playing sports, especially football, so by going to high school I can continue where I left off. Being a student with right mind set, transitioning to high school won’t be I hard, but I know I will have new challenges I have to overcome and long lasting experiences which will get me ready for life.
Time flies so fast. Looking back, my high school is just like a movie, a lot of things happened. High School is four years of growing up and probably a time in your life where you go through the most changes. In high school you are able to discover yourself and find out who you are as a person. Each year is special and unique in their own way. My journey through high school was a tough one, especially because I decided to not only focus on academic work but also to invest quality time in extra curriculum activities. I wanted more than just academic excellence; I wanted to be a leader, I wanted to add value to every aspect of my life, I wanted a rounded education and not just mere schooling. My success story is what I will like to share with you; how I really made it and how this defines my personality. My journey in High School was scary, exciting, and successful.