High School Social Status Revised
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"High School Never Ends" - Bowling for Soup
High School is always scary. Don't deny it, you with the purple hairband (purple is, like, totally the new pink!) High School is downright frightening. You can't fool me; I know four years ago you were climbing trees and you wore your mom's high heels only so you could make fun of her for putting herself through all of it. It's High School Phobia that made you this way, and it's not something to be ashamed about, either. High School is scary.
However, don't worry. Worryin' ain't going to get you anywhere, because you could think and think and think about it; you could plan and plot and pick out who you're going to make friends with and stick to to save yourself from being (gasp gasp) cliqueless; and you could stick to CosmoGirl gospel all you liked, if you're going to be a loser in High School, you're going to be a loser. And, sadly, as a lot of us can testify to, if you're a loser on day one, chances are you're going to be a loser all four years. Unless, you know, you're in She's All That, in which case no normal human principles apply, and I may as well pack up and go home.
Here's what I really want to write about in this hub.
WHO YOU DON'T WANT TO BE IN HIGH SCHOOL:
1. The Rebel: This one is going to get you a lot of attention. It will, I'm not going to deny it. You walk outta class when you're bored, cool as a cucumber. You have a snake tattoo at the back of your neck (or whatever it is you kids are getting these days), that the opposite sex coos over, and you have piercings in creative locations. This is definitely going to make you a known figure in school. This is also going to get you a lot of red crosses in your notebooks. And, I'm sorry kids, but it's true, that old adage: High School is where you build your future. On another note, if you're going to be the Rebel, you're really going to have to BE the rebel.There are issues coming your way if you cry when the principal tells you you're suspended, and once you've cried, my friend, you're going to be the Rebel Who Cried for the rest of your High School life.
2. The Nerd:I don't really need to tell you this one, but I'm putting it in, anyway. If you're the Nerd, you have officially committed social suicide. This is what the opposite sex, especially attractive members of it, are going to do to you: they're going to come up to you, give you cursory smile, hand you their homework, ask you to check it PLEASE, and leave. There's two words on that sheet (no, it's not 'hah sucker!'), and you're going to have to finish it or else incure the wrath of the Barbies. Not a good place to be. In return, you get an invite to a party where everyone intimidates you, and you don't know where to go. You end up being asked to fill drinks into glasses, and that's your role for the rest of the evening. Woo hoo.
3. The Sarcastic Intellectual: This is the one I picked, just so you know. And now I will tell you why you don't want it. Is anyone out there familiar with the movie "10 Things I Hate About You"? Yeah? Well you know the character Julia Stiles played? Remember her? She kept arguing with her teachers and staring down people who made comments that did not pertain to the lecture, or were just plain dumb? And you remember how everybody felt about her? Exactly. You pick this option and the next thing you know you have twenty people begging you to teach them something or the other, and no friends whatsoever. If you think that's OK, here's more. You do brilliantly and your teachers are going to LOOK for something to mark you down on; you're going to be the most strictly checked kid in class. And they're going to fight sarcasm with sarcasm. Because nobody likes a know-it-all, especially people who actually know more than the know-it-all themselves.
4. The Giggler: I think this applies mainly to girls. You've seen 'em around, usually in groups of three to six. They think they're popular, they wear all the 'right' stuff and shun everything that's not 'cool'. They're usually moderately good looking, even, but there's something about them - and it's hard to put your finger on what it is - but something not quite right. Well, let me guide that finger for you. They're DUMB. This is basically the 'Airhead Clique', and only wannabes who think they're doing it right get into it. Pity them, they know not what they do. They're probably very nice, too, because they don't have it in them to be manipulative or anything like that, but the problem is, they're shallow. And they dumb themselves down a lot to 'fit in'. It's easy to tell why you wouldn't want to be this person, but a lot of people fall into this category by mistake. They were actually aiming for 'Barbie' status. Honey, please get this straight in your head. If you can't work it, you gotta look someplace else. Don't be the wannabe, that's just the saddest place to be, and though you don't know it, everybody's secretly laughing at you. Or maybe not-so-secretly, and you're too dumb to notice.
5. The Aide-De-Camp: You curry favour to the Barbies. You tell everybody that they're your best buds, but actually they hardly talk to you, even though you sit at the same lunch table. You're used for all the menial work, like carrying the cake when the friends of somebody popular want to give him a surprise. You never stand for Class President, but you always have a finger in that pie: making the posters and putting them up. You're the secretary, the trusty sidekick, and it's sad. Sad because you'll never get the attention you truly craved, which is why you made friends with the Barbies in the first place, isn't it.
And now we come to...
6. The Barbie: Yes, finally. And yes, this applies to both genders. You're pretty. You're popular. Everyone wants to be like you. And you have to guard that position, GUARD it. Nothing's sadder than somebody who WAS popular, but was ousted out of the position by somebody who was just slightly more manipulative. You have to be the best, and if you're not, you're ridiculed. Imagine what it's like for celebrities, except, instead of just reading what people write about them, you hear from actual people. To your FACE. Not fun. You have the most pressure on you out of all high school kids, and that can't be much fun when you have to pass your frikkin' A-Levels as well. If you're picking this position (And it's pretty darn coveted, too. LOTS of people what to be a Barbie) you have your work cut out for you. Good luck with that.
Who you WANT to be...
I think, as most people do, that instead of finding yourself a clique to fit into, first thing, what you should do is just plain be yourself. You'll find your niche in time, and you'll get friends, too. People will know you're reliable , because you don't fake it, and that, people, is the best kind of friend-making-ruse there is. And if your argument is that 'yourself' is one of the types mentioned above, then go for it. Perhaps you'll be able to work it, to your advantage.
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interresting.. I actually fit into 3 of those catigories.. I was a charismatic, sarcastic, class rebel. I was the class clown the teacher liked, and the rebel that made the teachers and studens laugh.. I made sure to only show the know it all side when someone was truly being ignorant and I could see that everyone was tired of them.
I also learned early in life that its not what you know its who you know and thus without kissing anyone's ass made myself valuable to the right people, teachers, principals etc.. through discovering their needs and filling them.
I liked to use my know it all side (and I did know extensively more than my peer due to proactive learning and curiosity about life, and although the internet didn't exist back then the library did.. I even carved friendships with the nerd class of people.. without becoming labeled a nerd of nerd sympathiser.. I was cool because I was me and noone had ever seen "me" before so they couldnt object to me with any old school tactics. The trick to being cool isnt to manipulate anyone, its to be yourself at all costs. only then can you fight adversity with both fists.
I like to refer to that scene in Good Will Hunting check it out here on Youtube http://youtube.com/watch?v=ymsHLkB8u3s thats the kind of thing that would bring that side out of me..(know it all) I also never liked being just one "groupie" I would bounce around to severl "types" of groups.. I think I may have been the only one with the balls to do this and to give people crap for trying to give me crap about being a part of more than one group..
I'd say something like "are you saying that you don't possess the skills to navigate more than one social species?" which of course got a blank look and nothing more said about it..
the trick to being cool is confidence.. the thing about this is most people in high school chase it artificially. being everything but themselves and this leads to a fight to either please others all the time or wear yourself out trying.. being yourself and being confidence go hand in hand but learning "how to win friends and influence people" is as simple as reading that book, a book that taught me how to network people and not have to give in to any peer pressure yet remaining a well liked person.
I hung out with the grungers in my high school. Do they not have those anymore, or are they the rebel? I also opted for sarcastic intellectual, but my high school was seriously retarded and most barely picked up on the sarcasm. Aha ha ha. I'm so glad that''s all done with. We're coming up on our 10-year. Why do people even go to HS reunions? It's high school. Good god, people. Flee, flee!
I think most cliques should be some sort of combination of this lot.
I am very glad to have never fit into any of these molds during my time in High School. Hon, the Divine broke the mold when I was made, and I'm proud of it! :-D
I'm still in highschool and ive been in a lot of the groups already. In year 7 i tried to be my own person as you normally do but that didnt work out. I found out i was being a pushover and i fell into the barbie crew, but one thing that i did keep was my wittyness. I am good with words and even better with comebacks although i never used them on the people that used to push me around coz i was scared of them i uesd them on teachers i was the class rebel the entertainer. I made the funny remarks that the students loved to hear about the teacher and id say it to the teachers face n all I even got a few teachers laughing once. I didnt care i falsed my confidence to the teachers but i was being pushed around outside class. I was getting into things like drink and whatever and trying desperatly to be like them and to be popular. Then i moved school i tried to leave my pushover side behind and be the perfect miss a student, but that didnt last long i fell into the same category again just to a less extent. I spent all of yr8 and 9 trying to be popular and pretty and get all the boys, but i still kept my rebellion with me although it was much less appreciated by this school then my last, but that didnt stop me i loved the thrill the adreline when youre walkin down the corridor towards the head terachers office an i just smiled at her as she told me off. I loved it and it started to become my life. Im now goin into yr 10 and im getting worse I do what the hell i like and i control the teachers in fact the ones i most naughty and rude to im normally thier favourite. I think its because they can see im a clever and nice person just with a loud mouth and a mind of my own. Most of my teachers know if i dont want to do something by god i will not do it and i am prepared to go to any measures to let everyone know that and i dont care what the consequence. Now i have broken away from most of my friends and tbh i just tag along with my best friend who is nothing like me. I dont get involved with her friends and i never meet up with them or nothin its just somewhere to go at lunch. I am hoping to become more my own person now and now i dont care what people think of me and i can see the barbies for what they are i am becoming more myself so i guess i would cast myself as the:
sarcastic intellect
rebel
myself
I love this hub, mostly because facebook is a strange phenomena it is bringing you closer to that whole high school thing- which I am not sure I want to do again!!! I was sarcastic rebel and went to three different high schools- ended up at the worst one. I did meet some treasures- but never really fit in. High school is hard to gage- you are awakening to yourself, love, and other things for the first time. So it is confusing and I have never really wanted to see any of those people again. Now my friend still lives in the area and has everyone on her facebook page that was in high school- so my photo and a girl I really did not like is right next to hers. I mean I am grown up but I don't know maybe I am not over some of the things that went down back then. It is strange!!! Would love to hear what you have to say!!!
high school is like this except for the end. being yourself leaves you unmarked in a social group, therefore no one want to associate with you because you break your caste. you have little friends or no one at all. my advice is to keep your skeleton in high school but alter your skin. do things you want to do and that should be your ground work, but if you want to fit in, face it, you'll have to change. and yes, you want to fit in. honestly there is no worse fate then being friendless through high school. dont become someone totally different, but tweak yourself. you will get friends, but also get friends who dont go to your school. this makes them the ones you can really talk to in a time of need.
What about the "kid who exists"? There's pros and cons...pros you get to be yourself and do as you like, hangout with whoever...but the majority of people will despise you, ignore you, or be one of the above to you. :/
Hmmm. I suppose I'm in a nice high school, but I dont really know what you're talking about. I have never seen these "cliques" before.
What ever happened to the goths,punks,and the skaters?ps,I'm a combination of those three
i don't think i fit into any of thse?
I have been myself everyday since grade 9, i go to the bathroom alone- i don't need a possy:P but i have TONS of friends. i get invited to parties, heck i'm usually the life or i have the parties! I'm smart, i have never skippped a class in my life, i'm in grade 12 now, life is going great, i hate drama- i have none, i'm not into it. what would you classify me? Oh i'm not in a cligue i have many friends from many cliques, OH and i play sports. what am i?!
im alive...
Salome 3 years ago
ok. you are cool Ms. Maylinda. Thanks for putting into words what we have been annoyed with all along.
ahahahah. remember how we used to be the chicks with the purple hairband. yay. i miss you.