Dana Diaz8 said:I don't know what to tell you. Some things just never change, do they? It’s the same old cycle, over and over again. Why does everyone act so surprised when the inevitable happens? Honestly, I'm just exhausted by the whole thing. kaže:
Did I actually write that?
Look, if you aren't exactly a genius, surviving high school is going to be an uphill battle. Especially if you end up at one of those elite prep schools where the pressure is relentless. And honestly? Even the kids who think they're smarter than everyone else aren't going to breeze through it that easily either. je He might be brilliant, sure, but he’s lazy and has zero interest in actually hitting the books. If he hasn't figured out how to study by the end of sixth grade—if he hasn't shown any genuine curiosity or passion for a subject, or if his grades are just trashed because he simply refuses to try—then what are we looking at? Basically, if he hasn't found a way to actually demonstrate that intelligence of his, does it even matter?
That’s just how I saw it.
Look, I agree that laziness and pure negligence will absolutely ruin you, but I’m still standing by my point: you don't need to be some kind of genius just to graduate high school, and finishing one certainly doesn't turn you into an overnight prodigy. I know plenty of people who went the vocational route—think trade schools or technical programs—who ended up being far more skilled and capable in their careers than those who spent four years in a traditional prep school. Does a diploma really define your intellect? Not always. I know a few seasoned tradespeople myself—guys who put in three years of solid vocational training—and I have to point to my neighbor, a master carpenter, whose skills are on another level. Honestly, most high school grads or even specialized vocational students would be absolutely embarrassed standing next to him. Even I’d feel a bit outclassed. I spent exactly one year studying geometry in high school, but unlike most people, I actually know how to apply what I learned. That’s the distinction between me and the straight-A types—the techies and the prep school kids who can recite formulas but couldn't solve a real-world problem if their lives depended on it. In my view, the ability to actually *use* knowledge is the only thing that matters if you want to survive in the job market, even if employers are too blind to value it. It seems to me that parents constantly push their kids toward those elite private academies because some outdated social standard convinced them it’s the only path to success. They think sending a kid to a top-tier preparatory school is a guaranteed ticket to stardom, but they’re dead wrong. Why can't we just let kids decide which path they want to take? We should let them make their own choice first, and then—only after they've weighed the options—offer our support, some actual advice, and maybe help them pivot toward a trade or a vocational program if we see they're heading for a dead end.
You got it wrong.
I agree laziness and neglect lead to ruin, but I still maintain you don't need to be a genius to graduate high school, nor does graduating make you some kind of mastermind.
But can't someone just be dumb, finish high school, and stay just as dumb... so what?
You can even finish college without being super smart. You just can't get people into certain universities if they didn't perform well earlier, while those who did perform better get in.
I know plenty of people who went to vocational school and then turned out to be way more skilled and sharper at college or on the job than the kids from prep schools.
Sure, there are always people taking the long or difficult route.
Nobody's claiming that kids passing middle school with straight A's are necessarily geniuses... but some kind of selection process has to happen.
I also know a few tradesmen (three-year programs), specifically my neighbor who's a carpenter—he could honestly put both prep school grads and vocational students to shame (myself included). The guy had one year of geometry in school, but he knows how to actually apply it, which is the real deal. Unlike the bookworms (whether they're vocational or prep school types), he actually uses what he learned, and applying knowledge is what matters most when you want to compete in the workforce (even if employers don't appreciate it).
And what was your point there?
The guy picked a trade, became an expert at it, and is a great craftsman. Was he supposed to go the academic route instead, or what?
Obviously, you have to apply what you know... and being good at your job means applying that knowledge. But to finish high school and college, you still have to study and pass exams.
I think parents push their kids toward prep schools because someone shoved the idea in their heads that it's the only way to success, making them think their kid will become a superstar instantly, but they're wrong.
Kids should be allowed to decide which school they want to attend. Once they make a choice, parents should support them, offer advice, and maybe even help them pivot to a different path if needed.
Yeah, all parents are clueless.
It doesn't occur to them that the kids are often the ones choosing the prep school route—either because they can (they have the grades) or because they have no idea what else to do.
