High School Pressure

There are some people around me, including some of my friends, who see school a little differently than I do.  They think it's all about who takes the hardest classes, who gets the best grades, and who gets the most credits, awards, and who knows what else.

Obviously those things are important, but are they the most important?  Isn't school really about learning things you can use for your future?
I just wonder if they're possibly missing the point, or if I am.  If I don't plan on ever using geography in any career that would interest me, do I really need to take AP Geography just to say I took an AP class?  Do I need to get farther ahead than my grade level in math just so it will look better on a college application, even though I like English way more than math?

There are people around me that say yes.  They think they need to outdo themselves just to say that they're smart enough to take the most difficult classes.  They take hard classes purely because they're hard and will look good on a college application.

And while I really don't want to work myself to death (especially in classes I don't care about all that much), I feel pressured to do the same thing as everyone else because if I'm the only one not taking all of the hardest classes just because, how will I get into a good college?

So here I am, feeling left behind because I'm not taking AP Geography.  I kind of hate myself for it, but I do.

Urgh.  Why is high school so complicated?

But if you want my opinion (or maybe you don't, but here it is anyway), high school isn't all about the competition.  We're all going to go to different colleges and will most likely never see each other again, so in the long run, does it really matter who took the hardest class in high school?  Can't we just focus on learning things that we're interested in and will need in any possible career fields we might go into?

Just sayin'.

This post isn't exactly the image of humor that I wanted my blog to have, but this was something I needed to get off my chest and dump onto yours. :) I'd love it if you guys would comment and tell me what you think about the topic.  Am I alone in feeling pressured to take the hardest classes just to say you did, or are you guys with me?

If you want to read more about this subject, click here to read an amazing article about the value of learning and how many students do things just for the sake of succeeding.  She can put it into words way better than I can.

But let's not leave on a semi-depressed note.  Here's a funny picture that most of you guys can probably relate to. :)

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