[OT] Nerds

[Kamog]

In high school, I actually enjoyed most of my classes. Only later did I discover that a lot of people hated school. I especially loved math and science. I remember being so excited when I learned something like how to use logarithms. For some reason, my classmates did not share my enthusiasm. After school, often I stayed behind in the computer lab, writing little programs for fun, and learning about computers. In my high school, calculus was not part of the curriculum, but an extra class outside of regular hours was offered, so I was in that class in addition to my regular classes - I was very happy about learning calculus. I only had a few close friends and did not associate with people outside my small group of about three friends. In fact, that's the way it has always been for me, not just during high school. I had absolutely no interest in being popular or looking good. Outside of the few friends I had, I did not care at all about the other people or what they thought about me, and rarely talked to them. I did not spend too much time doing homework, because for the most part I didn't find it very difficult. But I did spend extra time to learn additional material I was interested in, and I entered math and science contests. Anyway, my memories of high school are mostly positive.

[Will]

Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:

quote:

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thus far, I haven't taken any courses that rivaled that class in difficulty

Well, you aren't an english major, for one thing...

---

What, is it so bad to expect a course that's supposed to be the fourth semester programming course to be even a little challenging?

Actually, the high school course was the most difficult because each class was like a 50-minute university lecture. Only there were five a week, instead of two or three. If the amount of reading and writing I did for that class was greater than all other classes in high school combined, I wouldn't be suprised.

Anyway, going over my post again, it seems like I come off as saying high school was completely miserable. Really, only the first half was miserable. The second half, I ended up learning all the matierial I needed to know for all my classes (excepting the AP English class) in the span of a few weeks, and doing whatever I pleased (within some limits) for the rest of the time. Like sleep, play games, read books, write, talk with people who didn't feel like doing work, etc. It also probably helped that I thoroughly 0wned a bully when he picked a fight, and consistently turned a dim-witted jock's verbal abuse against him. Also, the fact that I could do most of the schoolwork in my sleep helped out with some of the kids who had a harder time with various subjects, since I was "nice" and would help them out if they asked. None ever seemed to notice that I never actually gave them the answers....

[narf poit chez BOOM]

what i learned in school:

the cool kids are always cool. doesn't matter how stupid they act.

but hey, if you suck up enough you might not be the #2 loser. you might be #3.

if you want to be cool, you got to wear cool clothes , have a cool haircut and beat people down.

what is cool always changes except the 'beat' part.

'cool' is stupid.

i don't want to be stupid.

i don't want to beat people down.

what this left me with:

an urge to beat jerks down.

violent rage.

cynicism.

character.

yep, the only good thing about being beat down is it can teach you to stand up. now, all i have to do is unlearn the rest...

tip: if your schools bad, change schools. if you have to, do coorospondence. homeschool. any lost social interaction ain't worth the pain. and you can always head over to your friends house(if any). if you don't have any, well, your not losing anything anyway. if home's bad, well, i have no clue.

i suppose i would have had a more enjoyable high school experience if by that time i wasn't well into not caring about any of them and not being very approchable even if someone was friendly. but i had had some experiences with people who where only friendly so they could stab me in the back.

[ January 07, 2004, 09:11: Message edited by: narf poit chez BOOM ]

[Loser]

The cruelty of High School is much like that the real world. It can be better, it can be worse, but it will prepare the student for the real world in ways that homeschool never will. If a person is homeschooled, from what I've seen, they are screwed, socially held back in what might be a permanent fashion. If they go to a public or private school at least they will have a chance at fitting in with the people in the post-High School world.

[ January 07, 2004, 16:06: Message edited by: Loser ]

[narf poit chez BOOM]

there's plenty of places to get social interaction other than school.

[geoschmo]

Most people that homeschool their kids are aware of the need for social interaction and make allowances for that. But the interaction is more structured and has a purpose other than just sticking the kids in a lunch room or on the playground so the teachers can get a smoke break.

Many home school parents join into "support Groups" where they get together for field trips with other homeshool families. There are many organizations that assist in curiculum and even help parents make contact with one another. Some even cooperate in teaching responsibilities so that the kids get the benefit of teachers with complimenting skill sets.

It's not quite the stereotype of the parents hiding their kids in the basement. It's like anything else. You get out of it what you put into it.

[ January 07, 2004, 16:22: Message edited by: geoschmo ]

[General Woundwort]

Originally posted by Loser:
If a person is homeschooled, from what I've seen, they are screwed, socially held back in what might be a permanent fashion.

Substitute "public schooled" for "homeschooled" and you describe my experience to a tee.