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High school stereotypes losing ground in today’s society
Photo Credit: Reece Pritchard
Junior Tony Torres
Written by Reece Pritchard, Staff Writer
People everywhere have all seen these scenarios played out on the silver screen. We can all recall the certain roles and stereotypes portrayed. There is the lumbering jock that has all the brawn but lacks brain. That dweeby kid who is always nose-deep into one of those elongated science fiction novels, the rebel who pumps his fingerless gloved fist in defiance toward authority, and as always the rich and popular, with their snobby attitudes and inflated egos. Going into detail, let’s not forget today’s addition of the indie kids, scene kids, loners and delinquents. But when taking a stroll through the hallways of real life, trying to spot and label students is becoming more and more of a challenge.
Students now are less artificial than depicted in the movies. Nobody plays their role, continuing the average outline. Having a certain label no longer condemns one’s character. Modern views changed the rules, and high school students can decide on what they want to be.
The imaginary boundaries have been lifted from the classroom. Drawing an allusion to the popular 80’s film The Breakfast Club, students of different backgrounds have come together and share experiences. Granted, it’s not as dramatic and scripted, but students are making friends and breaking that social barrier that impedes high school life.
A specific example would be the classic case of the jock, the athlete with the stereotypical letterman’s jacket, tossing a football in the air while on his way to class. But these sportsmen have become more associated with the term student athlete. Not only do they strive for greatness in their selected sport but also seize the educational opportunities offered in the classroom.
So with all that said and done, Hollywood will continue the entertaining stories and characters, but let’s try keep the idea on the big screen. Life isn’t like the movies, and students everywhere are making choices based on their own opinions. So let the football player read Faulkner and the rich and popular take a seat with the loners during lunch.
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