In my opinion, high school was something many teens used to look forward to. The stories I have heard from my parents and grandparents speak of bonfires, parades, cruising main, homecoming dances, and tug of war. Looking through their high school yearbooks makes me yearn for their experience. Students had more opportunities to enjoy being young; there always seemed to be something exciting happening. Now, things don’t quite feel the same.
Today, the high school experience is different. There seem to be fewer activities and fun events. Staff are more concerned about keeping you in the building than making high school enjoyable. You will find that students are too stressed with homework, sports, and work to really enjoy the activities we do have. In addition, so many new rules and regulations make school feel more strict than fun. Technology appears to be transforming the way students connect; instead of engaging in face-to-face conversations, students are increasingly communicating online. While this can be used for good, I believe it can do much more harm than good.
We have lost some of the joys and freedoms that make high school so special. Maybe the “typical” high school experience isn’t completely gone; it’s just buried deep within the rules, responsibilities, and screens.
Image Source: Madison HS 1997 yearbook
