High School: Digging Beyond The Mystery

What is it about high school that seems so attractive? Is it really the daunting hours of nightly homework, the grueling vocabulary, or even the repugnant lunches?

How we have always anticipated, our high school experience will play out inherently altered because of society’s portrayal. The misconceptions we have all have faced are uncountable. In an article written by the Young Scot, entitled, “Going Into First Year: Expectations V. Reality”, several of the common high school fallacies are described. Of these, the fan favorites were not to expect everyone to look like models, as movies and television shows depict. Also, lunchtime flashmobs will never be a thing. Lastly, to get through high school it doesn’t require the “popular” label - it is just something that many strive to achieve or gain the title of.

While speaking with Licking Valley high school senior, Abby Handa, she informed me that her expectations of high school were far from the truth. In fact, “[she] definitely thought high school was going to be more like a party than anything. [She] figured it would be a breeze.” Abby went on to add that the media she grew up with, with television shows like iCarly, Hannah Montana, and even Suite Life of Zack and Cody, really pushed her assumptions to their furthest point. She included, “In reality, it was definitely harder than I expected… more responsibilities, more drama.”

Inside the blog, GoEnnounce, an extension of how media glamourizes high school is encompassed. They disclose high school isn’t as much about “sticking to the status quo” as it is in Hollywood. Not only is high school “a time to branch out”, but it is the prime time for finding yourself.

Amidst the chaos of her last year of high school, Abby looked back on her time spent within these walls so far, denying that it is coming to a close. Although unforeseen, her experience has been nothing regrettable. Abby concluded, “I mean, it was no High School Musical, but it has been an experience I will never forget.”

So, the next time you ask yourself, “what did I expect my high school experience to look like?”, think back to Troy and Gabriella. Think back to Zack and Cody. Think back to Hannah Montana. Think about their “perfect” high school experience and everything you dreamed yours would be, because the truth is, it may not be as good as it seems.