School is one topic that I don't understand. We spend roughly 18 years of our lives working to achieve a letter that is supposedly going to get us into a good university, then job... then what? I don't even think the letter means anything, yeah people work hard and achieve that all impressive 12 A*s and make everyone else in their class feel like an ass because they are achieving and everyone else is sitting on a couple As and Bs. But those grades only mean something until you get to University, then the ball game changes. Its like playing American Football then thinking your going to play football in Europe but your thrown into the deep end because instead of using your hands you use your feet. Everyone says University is different from School, that's where life begins, a time to experiment and live life. You are not yet an adult but you are not a kid. You are in an expensive awkward middle phase, where you pay £9000 a year to find yourself and build a career you hope to achieve later in life.
But back on school, it is its own little bubble isn't it. It is not real. You are stuck in a building filled with people you have to see constantly, and you better like them if you are doing your GCSE or A level year because switching schools at that time, you might as well try your luck with winning the lottery. But in those few years, especially an all boy's school, things are different from that mix school. Having been to all of them, I can safely say, an all boy's school is the bitchest. I never imagined in my life to find boys so two faced. But it is a price to pay. When you talk to people outside school only a small elite few say they are still in contact with their school chums. So why do we make everything at school so damn important. Why is it when Mr popularity says something everyone jumps. Why is it that at school we take things so damn personal, then we go outside into the real world and Billy who was the Bees knees, is suddenly trying to relive his glory days. We do try to hold on so dear to our friends, everyone wants that ideal life long friend group, bros for life. But life isn't geared up that way any more.
Being accepted is really important at school, as they say "when in Rome". However, everyone outside of those four walls says to "be yourself". But how are we suppose to know who we are at the age of 16? That is a life long journey to find out, If only there was a place where you were not treated like an adult yet but could still act like a kid, oh yes we covered this, its that expensive building called University. But being accepted is impossible, psychologist tell us that mostly everyone in your class feels excluded and isolated. I can honestly say I agree. If we take a step out and really look at our friends at school a lot of the time they were not really being friends, it was all about calling each other "gay" and put down antics to get a cheep laugh from bystanders who wish to be involved. But is that friendship? If not when do we actually begin to make friends?
Everyone believes their school experience was unique. I beg to differer, every school has the same group of people, no mater how rich or how poor, how big or how small. The only thing that changes the experience is how you act and react. Im nearing the end of my school life and career, and even though I can say I will miss my group of friends, I do wish I did things slightly differently. I think the biggest lesson people need to learn is "know who your friends are" like that beer advert with the random aliens. People often follow who they feel is the most popular or coolest, and you may actually miss an opportunity to have a great friend because your so into what Billy is eating. Understand why people act certain ways, just because someone comes off as self absorbed, doesn't mean they are a bad guy. I always try to find the good in everyone I meet and focus on that, rather than trying to pick out what is wrong with them. Give everyone the chance to be a friend, just because someone may not look cool doesn't mean they are not fun, people may surprise you, look at Monster University Mike and Sully were opposites in the beginning but in the end they were the best team ever.
*note I have nothing wrong with anyone named Billy and I will probably talk about school again :)
