Alabama H-schoolers
Alabama Law
Articles
A Typical Day
Books
Catalogs and Magazines
Craft Ideas
Field Trip Ideas
Forms
Lesson Plans
Links
Updates

What I learned in school and all that I didn't need to learn 
in school but did anyway...

I learned that some kids are not "good" enough to be my friends and in turn,
I was not "good" enough to be friends with others. This was not based on anything more than how a person dressed or looked.
I learned that it was empowering to laugh at and tease those that were not as good as I was. Not only was it empowering to my own esteem but it earned me merit to those "above" me.
I learned to swear and use language that is hurtful, improper, and ignorant.
I also learned that foul language is a hard habit to break-it took a long time.
I learned more about sex, drugs, alcohol and cigarettes than I needed to know. Thankfully I exercised a good measure of common sense and did not get involved in those things but I was certainly aware of it and could have easily fallen into them.
I learned that it is "cool" to disrespect teachers, parents, and others in a position of authority.
I learned that school and learning were things not worth my time and energy. I was encouraged and prompted to skip classes by my peers. I was too afraid of being caught though to have ever skipped a class.
I learned that good grades and marks were more important than effort in a lot of circumstances. 
I learned that comparing grades between two students can be humiliating and crushing to the one with a lower grade(s). 
I learned that doing your best wasn't good enough.
I learned that too little competition breeds stagnation but too much competition leads to burn-out, frustration, misery, failure, and a "give up" attitude.
I learned that hard work and studying is worth the effort in the long run. 
I learned that it is easy to pass a test by cramming the night before but a few months later, I wouldn't be able to recall much of anything.
I learned that being who you are is not as important as being what others want you to be. 
I learned that the only clothes worth wearing are the ones that cost more than my family could afford. 
I learned how to judge people based on externals rather than on their character.
I learned to be ashamed of my family, of my parents, of my dad's occupation or lack of a job.
I learned how to lie in order to fit in. I learned how to water down my principles and beliefs in order to appear to fit in.
I learned that some teachers do care about what happened to me and there were a lot who didn't. 
I learned that there are a lot of tired, burned out teachers. 
I learned that there are a lot of teachers that want to be "best friends" with the cool kids. 
I learned that some teachers had expectations that I could never ever reach and that other teachers had expectations so low that a worm could have passed them. I had teachers that inspired me, some that encouraged me, some that turned me off from their subject matter, and others who were just neutral.
I learned that people are fickle. The friends that I had yesterday won't talk to me tomorrow. The people that I wouldn't associate with a week ago become my best friends today.
I learned how to blend in, to be unnoticeable, to merely exist at school.
I learned to be afraid to speak up and say something for fear of sounding foolish or stupid. In turn, I learned to doubt myself and my abilities something that I still battle today.
I learned to be a little fearful of those older than me, intimidated. Senior students were larger than life-no way that I could or would ever get to know them. And in turn, my peers and I were larger than life to the freshmen-no way that we would ever get to know them either.
I learned that to be different is a terrible thing.
I learned that making noticeable mistakes or faux pas  was the most humiliating thing that could ever happen to me.
I learned that it was easier to pretend that I understood something that I didn't rather than be seen as stupid or slow or to admit that I needed help.
I learned that extracurricular activity trips were ideal times to act up or do things that I couldn't do at home...even with chaperones-things that I wouldn't have been allowed to do at home. 
Basically, I learned that the rules set in place by my parents were lame, overbearing, unreasonable, and not worth obeying if I could get away with it.
I learned to not even bother trying out for sports teams because I was never good enough to make the team anyway. 
I learned that the popular kids always made the sports teams.
I learned to be embarrassed about my body, my face, my hair and my lack of hairstyling abilities.

I could probably go on and on with this list. I think that there are a couple of positives in my list but not very many. Don't get me wrong though, my school years were not really too bad. I survived and I think I turned out okay! But I think that I just sort of floated through the latter years of school. I never really had any enemies but then again, I didn't have a whole lot of friends either. I was truly surprised when I received an invitation to my 10 year grad reunion especially since my family moved just before my grade 12 year. I would have liked to have gone to it, just to go back to the city that feels like "home" to me but I know that I wouldn't have had much in common with anyone let alone felt any sort of relationship with them. After graduating, I think I learned the most from my 3 years working at McDonalds and I'm not just talking about fries and burgers! I started out knowing nothing and ended up in junior management. I worked with people from teenagers to seniors and mentally challenged. I served customers that were nice, ignorant, belligerent, homeless, well-to-do, deaf and mute, that spoke a different language, MC Hammer and his crew, and so on. I opened the restaurant and I closed it. I learned how to work well with others regardless of their age or intelligence or position or beliefs. I learned that hard work and effort is rewarded and encouraged. I learned how to encourage others to do their best. I learned how to work as a team. I learned that I am capable of doing things that I might have been afraid to try for fear of failing. I learned how to let some things roll off my back.
I wasn't discriminated against because of my beliefs.

Angela