Although God created us all equal that is far from how your peer groups accept one another. There would be less teen suicides if each group simply accepted each other and their differences, not alienated each other. Some believe high school cliques can be demeaning and cause lifelong trauma to one’s self esteem. The popular group of kids is made up of the jocks, cheerleaders, and designer dressing young people who normally walk around thinking that grade’s and other people’s feelings does not matter. This group is usually your more attractive, stylish, snobbish group.
How do they do it? Most of the time they don't really understand the material in the class, but somehow manage to pass with good grades. There are many downsides to what Bruno describes as being “cheated in the long run." He mentioned that although the students have remembered all the facts they don't really achieve any additional intelligence. He brought up a good point that a lot of people wouldn't have thought of in terms of a student’s education.
Real friends will accept the way you are, and would never pressure you into a decision which you know is foolish. School systems are the central locations for negative peer pressure and many teens feel they have to change who they are just to "fit in". Fashion has become a major deciding factor in the appearance, and popularity of todays teenagers. Many feel if they dont get the latest nikes, or the coolest torn up jeans they will have trouble being accepted when around other peers. Schools have become more of a contest then a learning environment.
Having this belief during this point of the game really helps out a lot. Having this core belief helps a ton in future life. For example, it helps you get good grades so that you can get into a good college. As you go through school it just gets harder and harder and sometimes you just aren't smart enough to keep getting good grades but you can always try your hardest no matter what. Nobody can take away your level of effort.
We've all been wanting to be friends with those couple of cool kids to feel fully accepted and that you actually matter. Not being able to be friends with those groups is kind of lame. Even though it is said that high school groups get along, they don't because people don't know how to deal with others differences, focus too much on them selves, and don't care to go out of their way to be nice. Its true people don't know how to deal with others differences. In an article Clay Tucker says " We all have difficult people we need to deal with.
Welsh’s article discusses the difference between American students and Asian students. The Asian students identified that their biggest factor behind academic success was “studying hard”. I believe that many American students have lost their internal drive and motivation to study hard, including myself, with technology now and it being so easy to cheat it becomes almost unnecessary. Insufficient teaching is not the major factor to blame nor is poor study skills or the lack of there of. I believe that the problem behind American students not studying is solely due to the lack of determination to study and excel in schoolwork.
Younger children believe that cheating is wrong but that it is acceptable in some instances. In elementary school children break or bend the rules to win games against their peers. But as they get older- around junior high- they begin cheating on academic work. “Cheating peeks in high school when about 75%of students admit to some kind of academic misgivings”. In schools cheating has become so socially acceptable that students think that it is okay to cheat.
Teenagers adapt to their surroundings in order to live, and in a non conventional sense, reproduce. The adaptations they have to make are a little different, however in a sense, it does include shedding one's skin and growing a new, possibly tougher one. High school students have to adapt to socially constructed levels; height, sexuality, weight, grades, social life, socio-economic standards, the list goes on. In essence, they survive by changing themselves, whether for better or for worse. For most teenagers, school is as much a popularity contest as it is an opportunity to further one's education, maybe even more so.
One could be lucky in being good at a sport, and achieve higher levels of recognition through that sport. Another example is someone who worked hard at school, and was offered a great job based on their credentials. This is a prime example in justifying the quote, “luck is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity.” Those who have prepared in school and skills will be lucky when the opportunity presents itself to utilize such credentials. People, who work hard at marriages, can be lucky in love. I believe good things come with hard work.
Grades are being used for this because grades can be used to get a rough preview of the person in question. Grades show the applicant’s ability to listen accurately, communicate clearly, follow instructions, and to return a product, answer or skill on request. It is the student’s willingness and ability to apply themselves to the task at hand that demonstrates their future value to employers in the marketplace. Prospective bosses see good grades in school as an indication of the student’s ability to provide desired results, which makes them highly marketable and in demand. Without grades, how else would we assess and measure a student’s abilities in a practical way that can be used for this?