Allow me to paint a picture for you of the modern American high school. Every day, hundreds of hormone intoxicated teenagers will walk through its doorways and hallowed halls, much as previous generations have. Many see this daily requirement of attendance as a prison sentence, and I must admit that in recent years a decline in the quality of cafeteria food has certainly increased the viability of that notion. However, I am one of those odd individuals who tends to avoid the position of “one of the pack”; someone who follows those around them simply because they are unable to form a solid opinion for themselves. No, indeed, it is an overwhelming truth that I unapologetically love going to school. It’s not because of the early mornings, made bearable only by a copious amount of coffee, in which I am unable to utter a word for at least half an hour after I pry myself from the bedcovers, whose warmth and sheltering comfort are so difficult to abandon. Each morning I enter into a fierce debate with my subconscious over the issue of whether getting up is really worth it. In vain I struggle against the inevitable conclusion that I must, as I could never drop-out and spend the rest of my life flipping burgers. No, I am not a morning person, nor do I appreciate school for its sub-par prison rations. The freshmen hallways, reeking of various colognes and perfumes, the unpleasant odor of the restrooms, the gobs of time-hardened gum under the desks, and the lack of proper heating and cooling systems have no bearing on my unpopular decision to love the place I have been attending for the past three and a half years. I love school because of the people and the experiences, and I’m here to encourage you to feel the same way.

The kids who missed out on the personal hygiene lesson in health class, use profane words in every sentence, and can’t compose a paper in Chicago format to save their lives are all appreciated by people like myself. They are the meat in the sandwich of public school systems. I see the potential of every single one of them to do good, though it is not often revealed. One of my rules, which I rigorously uphold, is to smile at whomever I pass in the hall. I hardly ever miss an opportunity. That simple reflex of facial muscles, which I learned in Anatomy but have since forgotten, have the ability to completely change a person’s outlook of their day, week, or life, and it is more than likely that they will return the gesture. While teenagers are inherently awkward, and in some cases socially challenged, learning to put yourself out there and communicate with your fellow beings can have an unprecedented positive impact on your life. Why should we waltz past each other as if we don’t exist outside our tiny worlds? The truth of the matter is that none of us have our lives together yet. All the more reason to exchange a smile.

We all complain about each other’s attitudes, but what if we all made an effort to put others before ourselves? It’s not as hard as it seems. One of the most common grumblings in our generation is the idea that we can blame the ever-present “society” for all of the troubles we experience. When will we stop using society as a scapegoat and realize that we are a part of the very thing we criticize! Our generation will ultimately grow up into the leaders of tomorrow, (some are already well on their way) and it’s important that we choose our thoughts and actions wisely. Tired of “society” setting the standards? Do something about it. Be kind, stand up for the rights of others, forgive freely, and love passionately. It won’t be easy, but it is most certainly possible.

Many teens see the grades of 9-12 as a huge waste of time. Granted, our education system is far behind on the international level and being further disgraced by empty promises of reform. Frankly speaking, the No Child Left Behind program has been a dismal failure. Is our concern for education so little that we push children through grade levels without ensuring that they fully grasp the concepts and material they’ve been given? As a future educator I am passionate about the quality of education in our country. To further my previous remarks on the “evils of society”, perhaps it has morphed into its current state due to a lack of educational resources. I don’t think we can rule that possibility out. Were you to have students across the states take a citizenship test, many would score poorly. I find it sad that we know less about our native country than those who become citizens by choice.
Though it’s easy to identify and cite the many issues that plague education in America, I propose that we, as current students and future leaders, do the best with the cards that we’ve been dealt. We can begin by addressing a major issue that has become commonplace amongst ourselves; laziness. I think that blame for poor grades is often falsely attributed to a cantankerous teacher who is “out to get you”, when in reality we have simply no given the work our best effort. In recent weeks, my social studies class was given an assignment to compose a research paper no less than six pages in length. After all was said and done, mine was the only paper with correct APA formatting, and even then it was not without its major faults; i.e. the fact that I only used one source for the entirety of eight pages (oops). I say this not to build myself up, but as an example of the relaxed attitude that we have taken towards assignments. Having written APA papers in the past, I was familiar with the format, but I used the internet (a.k.a. our best friend and largest distraction) to ensure that I was properly going about formatting. Why didn’t more people use the world wide web to correct their mistakes? In this age of technological obsession, we seem to neglect the vast resources that are quite literally at our fingertips. You’ve never been taught to compose a paper properly? So what? There are millions of tutorials, articles, and advice forums that are designed to help you. If you want better grades and a higher chance at success, then hop to it. You’re in control of yourself. No one ever became skilled at anything by sitting around and blaming their education. Take control of your learning experience and strive to be the best you can be. Accept nothing less than greatness, and sweep your excuses under the rug where they rightfully belong.

One of THE most important aspects in my love of school is my involvement in extracurricular activities. I’m currently the Vice President of National Honor Society, the Senior Class, and Student Council (I like to call it the Triple Crown of Vice Presidency) as well as a leader in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and a member of various other clubs and organizations. Through my involvement over my high school career, I have made new friends, some which seemed unlikely at first. I’ve experienced a variety of exciting activities, and I want to encourage others to do the same. Think school is boring? Join a club! Become involved in something bigger than yourself: a sports team, photography club, marching band, whatever! I guarantee that your outlook on public school will change and you’ll lead a happier and most likely healthier life. Humans crave companionship, so find an activity and surround yourself with others who share a similar passion. As hard as it can be to make new friends who are outside of your typical social group, your struggles will be rewarded. Open your mind and heart to new possibilities and live a fun-filled life.

Peer-pressure and the general attitude of teens towards school seems to be that feeling miserable and complaining for four years of your life somehow equivalates to being “cool”. I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be that way. Why would it be so wrong if we were to love what we do each day? I propose that we examine our thoughts and actions, and begin making the most of what we’ve been given to work with. We don’t have to accept and live with the stereotypes that come with our age. The quality of your personal high school experience is entirely up to one person: you. We only get one chance to be high schoolers. The ball of decision is in your court; what will you choose to do with it?