"Voices" of the Reading Eagle Discusses Social Changes within High Schools

Back when I was in high school, cliques were in charge. You had your sports jocks, geeks, band kids, and a plethora of other groups. People wished to find social acceptance within their group, and where high school got nasty was when stereotypes and prejudice came forth between groups. I chose not to get involved with any of it when I was in high school, and I focused on myself.


I was surprised to read in Voices that high school students (at least in the Berks area) feel that the way cliques work is changing. Zeba Hussaini, the article's author, interviewed a student named Alex, a senior at Exeter. He thinks that political correctness and equality drove home the idea of widespread acceptance. Somehow I think tolerance is emerging in high schools, in a time an age where selfishness and and a lack of prudence run rampant.


The article was enlightening, and it is interesting to read what the next generation of college students is saying. College has been a socially accepting experience for me, and I am happy that those in high school with peculiar interests, whether it be anime or partical physics (or both) are, or are becoming socially tolerant. We need more people like this in high school, college and the world.


In a time where budget cuts are rampant within public schools, educators need to seize onto this social change and offer programs to challenge and satisfy the needs of higher level (more intelligent) students. Every student, regardless of their level of education, should get the material(s) that they need. What they do with it and how they choose to progress will determine where they end up in life. Preparation for college has been the name of the game for the past 5 years, and the PA department of education has done well preparing intelligent students for college.


Students: keep challenging yourself and keep going. Find your interests and tail them. There is NEVER anything wrong with overachieving- just do so in modesty.


(References- Hussaini, Zebi. "'Geeks' Shatter Stereotype." Voices of the Reading Eagle [Reading, PA] 2 Mar. 2010: 1. Print.)