Studies like this always
fascinate me. Take a group of kids. Different personality sets. The jock, the nerd, the fly girl, the loner, etc. You know, some
Breakfast Club type shit. Then follow 'em into there adulthood and watch what they amount to. WHO WOULDN'T WANNA SEE THAT?
So I happen to come across a
@TIME magazine article in the June 20, 2011 issue called
"Life After High School", and a few parts stuck out to me. Mainly of which concerning
popularity.
"When you get to be our age, you all of a sudden realize that you are being ruled by people you went to high school with... You all of a sudden catch on that life is nothing but high school."
Now, as chilling as that excerpt was, in only the beginning of the article, that wasn't even the kicker! Here is some of what they've found from their studies...
"Our work shows that popularity isn't all that important. The key is finding a group of people with whom you can feel at ease being yourself."
"Indeed, recent research suggests that popularity isn't entirely positive. Belonging to the cool crowd is associated with higher rates of drinking, drug use, sexual activity and minor delinquency...and the connection between social status and risky behavior may be a lasting one."
Great point! So they validated what most of "unpopular" folks have known, deep down, all along. But there's more of a "raise the wool over your eyes"-er here...
"What's more, popular kids may not even be well liked. Researchers distinguish between two types of popularity: "perceived popularity" or how socially prominent individuals are, and "sociometric popularity" or how well liked they are. Membership in the two groups often doesn't overlap. Sociometrically popular teens have a wide group of friends and are described by classmates as 'trustworthy' and 'kind'; perceived popular students are admired and envied by their peers but are also regarded as 'arrogant' and 'stuck-up'. And no wonder, many studies have linked perceived popularity to high levels of what researchers call 'relational aggression': spreading gossip, engaging in taunting and bullying and practicing exclusion and the silent treatment in order to maintain one's social position."
WOW! Took the words out of my mouth! So how did this article relate to me you ask?...
Well, I spent much of my childhood into my teenage years as a loner, but got the
luxury of the best of both worlds when I became a jock. I saw what I became, and what I was becoming. And once I graduated, just like everyone else,
that "real world" rude awakening set in. But I never really noticed
the "eternal high school" conundrum until I heard it in a song at the gym.
Then I thought of the reasons why I was a loner, and even when I was a jock. It was mainly because I couldn't stand
A WHOLE LOTTA FRONTIN (definition: perpetrating).
Most of the people considered "popular" never really amounted to anything. We all know it!
ADMIT IT!
I remember deciding to skip my prom, thinking to myself..."sooooooo I'm gonna spend a bunch of money that I don't have on a limo, tux, hotel room, etc; to spend a night with a bunch of people who don't like me or have any interest in me whatsoever; just for some memory I can't do anything with?...nor is it necessary or will it benefit me in the future.
The only memory I would have is all that money I spent and what I could've spent it on, and how much other shit I could've done with my time! So what was the worst that could've happened by me missing my prom???
Well aside from NOT having regrets, and voids within my soul for missing out on the so-called "high school experience" lmaooo...but also not having the regrets on money and time I could've wasted, and not to mention socializing a special moment with people I really don't want and have to socialize with.
I can also say that despite missing out on "popular" things like prom and graduation...believe it or not, I'm actually content with my life thus far
in lieu of any social pressures. Independent thinking is a gift to you and a curse to others.
Remember,
you always have a choice. Choose
Prosperity Unlimited LLC
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