highschool

Entering high school I felt like I was a somewhat intelligent person. I didn't think I would, by any means, be the smartest, nor totally ignorant. The first few days were sketchy. I didn't know many people, or at least that I thought. Many of the people who attended my grade school, but changed schools, I saw again. It was a pleasant surprise.

Eventually I entered into he Morning Crowd, though we didn't call ourselves anything. It wasn't really started, but more so, just happened. People within the group tended to think similar, and not overly like school, yet by no means want to drop out.

I took what are called "honors" courses whenever I could. I also took some sort of computer/technolgy related course each year. Both where interesting. This helped to form a base of knowlege for me. Unknown to me at the time, I started finding more ways to continue my trend, "how to get decent to good grades, with the absolutly least possible effort." I think that is a common trend for people in school these days. It is rare that you find a class that you actually want to and work hard in, not because you have to, but becasue you want to.

I started off my sports career in football. I didn't mind it, but really didn't have much heart for it. I don't like intentionally hurting people or have a need to put myself into some contact sport all the time. The program wasn't really overly great, though started doing quite well the year after my departure from the school. I still believe that coachs should "scout" out players in the Physical Fitness classes, for they have lots of talent. This talent usually goes wasted for they don't really get into the school spirit thing. .

By my sophomore year, I decided that football wasn't worth the pain for the miniscule amounts of pleasure I derived from it. I moved onto the track. It is here where I discoverd a lot about myself. In running track it helped me redistribute my weight and actually loose a little. I ran cross country the folloing year, and again track. My skill level increased and dedication remained high. This helped me gain the position of "cross country captain," by my senior year. I became known more from running than anything else, or so I believe. Most people would know who I was and initiate conversation with, "didn't I see you ... way over there...."

My acedimics continued to be decent, though I didn't increase my studying from my prior years. I have pretty much always done the same thing and allowed the course work to determine my grade. Acedemically I looked alright, but inside I was not.

During much of my free time I would design things. Not for any particular reason, but because things came to me. Most of my life I have done this to some extent. By my 8th grade year, I learned of something called Mechanical Engineering, and decided that sounded much like what I wanted to do for a living. It was chosen for my future career path.

I now marval at how high school corrupted my mind. I went from being optimistic and open minded , to finding ways to get out of things (homework) and more closed up. I think much of that has to do with the style of teachers and people within the school systems. It seems they train you do be a medocre, regular joe. In the honor classes they try to elevate you to some great height, when in fact you are at the same level of the "regular" students. This upset me. I had lost my vision, my talent.

Slowly I began rebuilding my vision. Staying open minded, looking at the positive, noticing little things and thinking how I can make them better. Much emphacisis is placed on memorizing small facts, instead of learning the ideas. This makes people less open to the natural abilities they have inside. That is what should be accentuated in high school, not necessarily the trivial facts you don't really care to know.