Being a high school student can feel like a drag. Aside from being placed into a certain grade level due to age (freshman, sophomore, junior, and seniors), students clump themselves in to personal levels. Students tend to cluster into groups or cliques in order to feel welcome. High school is like the food pyramid. Each level has its own group; each group or clique has its own name. There are the jocks, cheerleaders, nerds, punks, and the average. In some situations the cliques have a few members that mingle with the other groups. The higher groups tend to “rule the school” and the lowest group tends to have a higher chance to succeed in their future life.
The cheerleaders and jocks are likely to fall under the same heading, the “cool kids”. These two groups intermingle and attempt to “rule the school”. The most common attitude for these members leans towards the stuck up and snobbish form. These groups of cool kids are at the top of the pyramid. Those at the bottom ache to be at the top; those at the top enjoy the leverage. The cool kids at the top are elected up based on personality, fashion, who they are friends with, as well as their looks. If a girl is snobbish or bossy towards another, it causes fear in some and respect in others. For some strange reason students tend to cling to gossip and attitude in order to get what and where they want, the top. If a member of the school has an excess in money, attention is easily drawn to them. People of high fashion get noticed for their style; people left and right will ask them where they shop and have people who long to be friends with them. Students who are naturally beautiful or handsome with a high confidence level make it very far in high school. Looks mean a lot to people, and someone who looks stunning will usually receive the benefit of the doubt. The students in any level will do whatever it takes to be pretty. The students within this level aren’t true to one another; back-stabbing is very common and there is a higher risk of rumors being spread about one another.
As the pyramid declines, the less confident one gets. The level immediately below the upper level would be the average and punks. Neither group is judged too harshly nor are the desired by the entire student body. Both groups generally stand their own. They may not be the most confident but they don’t look down upon themselves either. The average and punks usually hold their heads up pretty high while staying down to earth; they stay true to themselves. This level on the pyramid could also be referenced as the middle class; there is a larger amount of them and they remain at a pretty satisfying level in life. This class is easily fluctuated. Those from the cool level can be bumped down when they lose respect and a lower level member can bounce up to this level when they alter a few misjudged traits. All in all, the students at this level usually enjoy remaining there.
At the lowest level of the pyramid, the nerds and gothic members are tormented and laughed at by most of the school. This level is by far the hardest level to remain. Members generally don’t have much of a confidence at all. To be classified as a nerd, most people claim that they would have to wear off-putting clothes and focus their social life on studying. At this level, most members are usually our future Bill Gates or Steve Jobs; they are more likely to succeed. In order to be recognized as gothic, people say that their focus is mainly black and grays as well as listening to heavy music. A large percent of the gothic group are into forms dark magic and satin worshiping. Many of the members of the lowest level are picked on and tormented by the top level and even some of the average members.
It is very unfortunate that teenagers have to endure this kind of ridicule and judgment. Many adults believe that it build character and prepares the child for the real world. As a victim of judgment and bullying, I can easily say that my life will forever be scared. I cannot regain those years that I suffered. High school should be all about discovering who you are in a safe environment. It should be about living and learning important and educational facts to help brighten their future. The worst part of the classification that goes on in high school would be that the teachers as well classify the students into the same categories as their peers. The categories that have been built up along the years becomes something that holds someone back; It may even cause depression or in the cool level’s case, a big head. Students have made high school a place of power or a place of fear.
These three levels of the pyramid represent the students to a near perfection. From top to bottom, judgment is the basis to all of it. Depending on the high school and the students inside, changing the position or level is a challenge; it is a challenge that most are not willing to take. High school will make or break you. Friendships will be made, and enemies will persist memories will be made and depending on the group that you are in, they could be positive or negative.
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