High school presents a varying experience for everyone, so it is hard to capture what it is like for all students. Generally, high school is a way to prepare for college or the workforce with extra support so you learn from mistakes without too much of a consequence. High school is for being put in situations where you must be flexible and learn to work with others. But in the current state of the world, many if not all high schoolers are in uncharted territory.
After the pandemic, which in and of itself offered unique challenges, what was trending down feels now like it has gotten worse. The gaps in knowledge left by the years of school interrupted by covid, and the growing problems of teen mental illness are issues that have been a commonly discussed topic for many in recent years. This generation of students has to continue to try and focus on the task of graduating when the curriculums are being restricted, the climate is changing at a frightening pace, and school shootings are a regular occurrence in the news. All of this while still trying to have normal high school experiences like balancing social activities with academics.
But in spite of all the world issues and stressful societal trends, what high school is like turns out to be fairly monotonous and mundane. Having a regular schedule of school and homework is a surprisingly good distraction from all that is going wrong with the world. When students focus all their attention on tasks that seem pointless, to prepare for a future that looks grim, all they can do is put their energy into small daily tasks. Sometimes the problems of the outside slip in and create frustrating and scary situations like school shooting scares, disappearing books and critical discussions, and frustrating legislation. And of course, not all students find school a distraction from these issues, only an amplification. But for some, school is unremarkable and just a regular routine. It can be comforting to know that while the world is burning and rights are being taken away, there is school tomorrow and you will have an assignment your teacher assigned just to have something in the gradebook.
But, of course, students in 2023 cannot stay blissfully ignorant forever. If the world is going to get any better, students are going to have to be the ones to do it. Although school is a nice distraction, it is important to remember that high school is also giving students the tools they will need to solve the problems we are troubled by today.
I really like the contrast you give between the perceived calm and sheltered nature of high school and the violent and chaotic outside world in your essay.
You had a good build-up throughout the essay to present your message. I also really liked the transitions, nothing felt clunky or out of place in the whole reading.
In the sentence “All of this while still trying to have normal high school experiences like balancing social activities with academics.”, try changing the sentince to somthing like: All of this is still happening while students are still expected to balance social activities with academics. This may help the sentence flow a little bit easier, as well as use words that connotate to the extra pressures that students have put on them.
In what ways could students make the world better? Would you be able to expand on this a little bit more?