Interesting read. After having transferred from a small, highly selective, magnet public high school (well-known as an Ivy League “feeder” school) to a very large, run-of-the-mill one, I’ve definitely been able to highlight, in retrospect, many of these issues that are discussed. Transferring was probably one of the best things that happened to me, as it allowed me to experience something new, and to be among a truly diverse group of peers. It helped me to realize that just because I was at a normal public school, it didn’t mean that the kids in it were stupid, or beneath me; in fact, I have many extremely bright friends who have made it into some of the nation’s top colleges, and one of my closest friends, a 17-year-old junior, works a corporate job as an IT tech. In addition, he has run his own business on the side for several years. It’s been an incredible eye-opener for me to have switched schools, and though I was initially unhappy with my decision, I’ve come to really appreciate all that it’s done for me and my outlook for life and the world.
Now, most of my former classmates at said magnet school are going to these elite colleges mentioned. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with that — in fact, everything is pretty much right about it — and I congratulate them sincerely. There’s no doubt that they deserve every acceptance they’ve receive, and I’m sure they will continue to work hard their whole lives. But as the article pointed out, it’s important to note that students at “lesser” colleges are not “stupider”, or less worthy of attention, or are somehow less human simply because they did not have the resources to make it into elite institutions.
I, myself, am attending one of my public city schools, mostly because every selective private college I applied to rejected me, but also because of financial reasons (I was also accepted to my “better” state schools, all of whom will leave me swimming in debt once I graduate). Of course, I spent some time being sad over these rejections. However, I think transferring has really helped me to realize that being rejected is not the end of the world. Here at my new school, I’ve learned to let things go. I’ve learned to calm down, to not get so strung up over the little things, to make friends, to have time for myself. I know that I have the capability to succeed and do well at ANY college that I attend, and it’s not going to change no matter which college I am at.
If I had remained at my previous school, I have no doubt that I would have been absolutely CRUSHED at every single rejection that I received. And being surrounded by peers who have all been accepted into the nation’s most elite colleges certainly wouldn’t have helped. I don’t regret the four years I spent at my old school; it has definitely taught me a lot, and it’s been an incredible privilege to have spent much of my formative adolescent years surrounded by such bright young men and women. But the environment was simply too focused on academics; a grade of B+ is often seen as mediocre. Students attending city and state schools (and not-very-selective privates, at that) are sometimes seen as not good enough, and I’ve seen my own friends do anything they can to avoid attending such schools — including taking on quite an amount of debt simply to attend the school of their dreams. While it’s certainly an achievement worth noting to make it into an Ivy League institution (or what have you), we shouldn’t see anything less as, well, anything less. Because it isn’t.
In contrast, every acceptance in my school is celebrated. And though most of these acceptances are from the same city and state schools I have mentioned, people are still so, so happy for their friends for achieving exactly what they’ve wanted — being accepted into college. Sure, their SAT scores weren’t all that high. Their essay writing wasn’t that great, their GPAs weren’t so excellent, their transcripts were littered with B’s. But hey, you know what? They’re in college, and that’s a great thing! They’ve got their entire life ahead of them to do even better than they ever have. It doesn’t matter where they are, it simply matters that they are now there and that they are still the same incredible person they were before getting there. And they will surely become an even better son, daughter, brother, sister, friend, lover, helper that they were throughout their course there. Everyone holds that power to improve themselves, and if you put your mind to it, you will be able to achieve whatever it is that you want at college without regards as to what college are you attending.
So if anyone is still reading this, just remember that no matter whether you are now — whether it be an Ivy League school or a state public college or even a community college — you will be surrounded by some of the most wonderful people you have ever met in your life. And these wonderful, inspiring figures are the people that will help you shape yourself as you go throughout your college years. You will have fun, and you will fail. You will make mistakes, and you will learn from them. You will make connections, you will help others, and you will discover yourself. But regardless of where you are and what you are doing, always, ALWAYS remember that you are just as important as the person next to you, and that they are just as worthy of being on this Earth as you are. So never neglect to celebrate yourself, and also to celebrate everyone else around you. Give gifts, leave notes, make cake! Just feel good and happy for being here, and doing so will help you exponentially when it comes to everything else in life. :)
tl;dr Thank you, Forest Hills.
Also, I realize that this has somehow turned into a self-esteem preachy speech thing, which is not at all when I had in mind when I was first writing this. But hey, I’ve hopefully helped one or two people feel good about themselves and change how they see their world with this. So thanks, and I wish you all the best!
current project: swatching all of my nail polish on acrylic nails glued to popsicle sticks.
50 acrylic nails: $2
200 popsicle sticks: $1
number of nail polish bottles I have: about 80 (>_______>)
I obviously have too much time on my hands. #senioritis
- Buddha (via kari-shma)
(Source: kari-shma)
• personal
- teach myself econ, Python or C++, and cello
- knit as though I will lose my hands before college
- update my wardrobe so people stop mistaking me for a 15-year-old
- get a Tamron 28-75, shoot like no tomorrow
- go outside and meet people and do social things
- don’t fail
I GOT TH12.
• personal
why are my hands shaking
• me right now • damn e-mail • y u no write yourself • personal • college
