As I sit in my composition class and am assigned an essay about being young, excitement is not something running through my mind. Hearing sighs and groans, I glance around, noticing the morose, bored looks on almost every students' face. I know when I get home, I will probably tell my mom or dad about the essay and bellyache about it, then move on with my life. I know that they will say, "Don't complain. It's for your own good and it will help you prepare for high school." As I imagine them saying that, I realize that adults don't feel as much empathy about difficult projects, the stress of tests, and social dramas in school as they should, considering that they went through the exact same situations when they were our age. I believe that adults forget their schooling experiences as they age and don't remember its problems.
I enjoy school. Although "nerd" has a negative connotation, I enjoy being called one. I really look forward to coming and learning, and I feel like many people do but are embarrassed to say so. Even if they aren't embarrassed, they think it's cool to talk badly about school or not try. I don't understand those mindsets because grades are really important to me. Another reason I just can't agree with them is that I am sent to a very nice, very expensive school. If somebody isn't going to try, they should give their place to someone who isn't as wealthy as them and wants the education! I like doing well in school and being known as smart. But although grades are important to me, they don't control me.
I know one student who is way too obsessed with her grades. One day, as I was explaining to her that grades aren't everything, she told me, "I just don't understand what people would judge me on if we didn't have grades." I feel bad for her, just knowing how much stress her parents put on her to do well in school, and how she thinks that people only judge her based on grades. There are many parents like hers who don't remember how much they hated their own parents stressing them out, and unknowingly put the same stress on their own children. I see kids crying over making a 97 percent on a test because it wasn't an A plus like they were expected to get. If adults remembered their own problems, I don't think they would put the same pressure on their children as they do.
Social issues in middle school are also a problem. Near the end of the summer, I had my three best friends, with whom I did everything, tell me I wasn't "perfect" enough and cut off our friendship. I quickly met my current friends, Parie and Media, who don't cut me down every time I am excited about something or I get a higher grade than one of them. Although the change was very hard on me in the beginning, I now know it was for the better and I am much happier. I know that issues like these have happened to adults when they were our age, but sometimes they seem to forget. The last thing you want to hear when you are upset about losing friends is that "it's all going to be okay." Coincidentally, that was the most common phrase I heard.
Another big social problem, especially in the eighth grade, is dating. Now I do not agree with middle-school dating. The whole idea of asking someone you don't really like out, "dating" for two weeks, then breaking up is asinine to me. I've realized, as many others, that most people only "date" in middle school because of the label it puts on you. To be known as "dating" can boost people up in the arbitrary social ladder, and many "date" just because of that perk. Some adults think it's cute, and push their children to "date", while others believe it's idiotic. I agree that it doesn't matter, and it disgusts me that some parents want their eleven- through fourteen-year-olds to "date".
Lastly, sports in schools, especially mine, are very hyped. Some students attend the school for $16,000 a year and only care about sports. Even if you are good at sports and are athletic, if you didn't get the automatic "jock" label on your first impression, people won't pick you for basketball or kickball. If you are considered a nerd, you won't be respected in P.E. or by students when you try out for other sports. I enjoy sports, and have played soccer for many years. I began to play basketball and run track as I entered middle school. Basketball is definitely the most hyped sport at Webb, and even if you are fairly good you are swept under the rug. The people recognized for their athletic achievements are the ones who have played the specified sport their entire lives. Many parents put extreme amounts of pressure on their children, causing their athletes to burn out by the end of a few seasons.
One student I know is extremely athletic. During track, the coaches make it very clear that you are required to attend at least one practice per week in order to participate in meets. That one student attended two practices over the course of the entire season, sometimes missing because she didn't feel like coming. What annoyed many people was the fact that she would never come to practice, yet still was allowed to do the most events she was allowed to do, which happened to be the best. I understand that she was athletic, but I don't think that was a reason to bend the rules. Her parents were oblivious to the fact that she was unfairly receiving special treatment from the coaches. I felt bad for her, because I knew that her parents expected so much from her. At meets, if she would make one mistake, her dad would be screaming and yelling. When she would return to her house, her father would put even more pressure on her than before. I can't imagine anyone performing well under that amount of stress.
As you can see, I think that adults forget many parts of their schooling career. I do not believe that I won't be a victim of age and remember every detail of Webb, but I will try to be more cognizant of middle school struggles and attempt to help my children if they ever need me.
I enjoy school. Although "nerd" has a negative connotation, I enjoy being called one. I really look forward to coming and learning, and I feel like many people do but are embarrassed to say so. Even if they aren't embarrassed, they think it's cool to talk badly about school or not try. I don't understand those mindsets because grades are really important to me. Another reason I just can't agree with them is that I am sent to a very nice, very expensive school. If somebody isn't going to try, they should give their place to someone who isn't as wealthy as them and wants the education! I like doing well in school and being known as smart. But although grades are important to me, they don't control me.
I know one student who is way too obsessed with her grades. One day, as I was explaining to her that grades aren't everything, she told me, "I just don't understand what people would judge me on if we didn't have grades." I feel bad for her, just knowing how much stress her parents put on her to do well in school, and how she thinks that people only judge her based on grades. There are many parents like hers who don't remember how much they hated their own parents stressing them out, and unknowingly put the same stress on their own children. I see kids crying over making a 97 percent on a test because it wasn't an A plus like they were expected to get. If adults remembered their own problems, I don't think they would put the same pressure on their children as they do.
Social issues in middle school are also a problem. Near the end of the summer, I had my three best friends, with whom I did everything, tell me I wasn't "perfect" enough and cut off our friendship. I quickly met my current friends, Parie and Media, who don't cut me down every time I am excited about something or I get a higher grade than one of them. Although the change was very hard on me in the beginning, I now know it was for the better and I am much happier. I know that issues like these have happened to adults when they were our age, but sometimes they seem to forget. The last thing you want to hear when you are upset about losing friends is that "it's all going to be okay." Coincidentally, that was the most common phrase I heard.
Another big social problem, especially in the eighth grade, is dating. Now I do not agree with middle-school dating. The whole idea of asking someone you don't really like out, "dating" for two weeks, then breaking up is asinine to me. I've realized, as many others, that most people only "date" in middle school because of the label it puts on you. To be known as "dating" can boost people up in the arbitrary social ladder, and many "date" just because of that perk. Some adults think it's cute, and push their children to "date", while others believe it's idiotic. I agree that it doesn't matter, and it disgusts me that some parents want their eleven- through fourteen-year-olds to "date".
Lastly, sports in schools, especially mine, are very hyped. Some students attend the school for $16,000 a year and only care about sports. Even if you are good at sports and are athletic, if you didn't get the automatic "jock" label on your first impression, people won't pick you for basketball or kickball. If you are considered a nerd, you won't be respected in P.E. or by students when you try out for other sports. I enjoy sports, and have played soccer for many years. I began to play basketball and run track as I entered middle school. Basketball is definitely the most hyped sport at Webb, and even if you are fairly good you are swept under the rug. The people recognized for their athletic achievements are the ones who have played the specified sport their entire lives. Many parents put extreme amounts of pressure on their children, causing their athletes to burn out by the end of a few seasons.
One student I know is extremely athletic. During track, the coaches make it very clear that you are required to attend at least one practice per week in order to participate in meets. That one student attended two practices over the course of the entire season, sometimes missing because she didn't feel like coming. What annoyed many people was the fact that she would never come to practice, yet still was allowed to do the most events she was allowed to do, which happened to be the best. I understand that she was athletic, but I don't think that was a reason to bend the rules. Her parents were oblivious to the fact that she was unfairly receiving special treatment from the coaches. I felt bad for her, because I knew that her parents expected so much from her. At meets, if she would make one mistake, her dad would be screaming and yelling. When she would return to her house, her father would put even more pressure on her than before. I can't imagine anyone performing well under that amount of stress.
As you can see, I think that adults forget many parts of their schooling career. I do not believe that I won't be a victim of age and remember every detail of Webb, but I will try to be more cognizant of middle school struggles and attempt to help my children if they ever need me.
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