Was High School a popularity contest?

[Complexion]

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High School for me was an interruption to money making so I didn't pay any heed to the things most kids did at that time as they simply weren't important in the grand scheme of making ends. Learning from those with no passion or skills and did it for check didn't tick any boxes either so I pretty much skipped that stage of the game as I pursued other things that were more worthy of investment.

Got me wondering though:

Was High School a popularity contest? Were people fighting to find a place in the hierarchy as they used their peers to define themselves. That must be pretty wild when you add in the need to get good grades as well was also programmed into their heads.
Granted a lot of the Coli is ignorant and probably couldn't care less about this but the whole "Damn homie, in High School you was the man homie!" seems to ring true as a lot of dudes are caught up, reflecting on the glory days, whilst in reality they're middle aged and middle paid.

 

[Kiyoshi-Dono]

High School Popularity doesn’t end in 12th grade
You have full blown adults still trying to live that life
Whether at the job or the neighborhood you live in
Muthafukkas want to feel apart of something
And if you march to the beat of your own drum
You will been seen just like the kids labeled nerds or social misfits for not capitulating to what society deems “social norms”
This board is very indicative of HS mentality
Look at each post individually
Watch how nikkas clique up with group think bullshyt when you don’t post something that doesn’t jive with “ this is what a black person is” narrative
Muthafukkas love talking that I’m a lone wolf talk until they are backed into a corner
You will always see the switch up
Personally this shyt resonated with me

Even with therapy I still see myself as a lone wolf
I have friends, a good marriage, amazing daughter but that darkness from my childhood has never went away
That’s why I could lose it all tomorrow and still function( now if I lose my daughter or mother)
My humanity will be completely gone
End of this soliloquy
Adults are like Titans
Children who grow up locked into adult bodies
Some more capable than others
Some hide their monsters until their death bed
Others congregate to take out or ostracize a potential threat to their ecosystem
Some live peacefully in the darkness
High School never ended it just manifested

 

[big bun]

Here we go…

 

[UncleTomFord15]

Isn't it common sense it was a popularity contest ?

 

[Kasgoinjail]

High school for me was exactly what it said on the tin

It was School and I was High!

 

[Elim Garak]

Generally speaking yes, it's like a bunch of Tory Lanez walking around.

 

[BrothaZay]

You was in school I was absent ..

 

[Turbulent]

My high school experience wasn't really a popularity contest. Had a stable group of friends i hung out with. No serious drama. Didn't care about girls at school. Started dating at 15 and both girls were at different schools. Was focused on video games and trying to get good grades.

 

[Formerly Black Trash]

*the world

 

[Formerly Black Trash]

Generally speaking yes, it's like a bunch of Tory Lanez walking around.

When Tory fukked Meg I was hating like he not even up like that

 

[hitmonlee]

Never paid attention to what was what

Just started doing a lot of dumb shyt like steal from stores and steal cars and did drugs

Rob arcade machines

Went to clubs


Class of 2000 here

 

[Blankthawtz]

popularity and cliques.......I loved all 4 years of high school and crew I ran with......glorious days...

 

[NoirDynosaur]

@Complexion

High school is the first glimpse of a social hierarchy before entering the real world

Drama, Hive-minded mentality (group acceptance), The drive for getting clout (external validation), Social status. These are the common behaviors one will notice when they step into the institution called high school.

Within that hierarchy, people treat those on the higher ranking more favorable than those on the lower totem-pole

The social misfits were ostracized because they didn't conform to the group's standards. Outside of high school, misfits were ostracized because of not conforming to society's norms. People don't associate with those with a lower social ranking, it tarnishes their reputation.

Remember the popular kids? They were acknowledged because they had social status. These were usually the jocks, football team/basketball team, potheads, musicians, class clown etc.

In High School, your status was currency. Being popular granted you access to the baddest broads, exclusive parties, drugs and a lot of friends.

In High School, I was very popular. I was between class clown x dancer. As a result, I gained a following. The funny thing is I never was part of any clique nor wanted too. I was drifter that floated between social groups.

Has high school changed? No. It just evolved. High school never ends when you graduate, it just transformers into everyday life.

High School taught me that social status gives you better odds of survival. Having notoriety gives one importance and power.

 

[JayStarwind]

I wouldn't say it was a popularity contest for me personally. Option 3 sounds about right but I'd change it to "I was the nerd who knew cool people" although I wouldn't classify myself as a nerd, I was always somewhere in the middle.

I did care subconsciously how my peers viewed me though up until my junior year; became a lone wolf and figured out none of this shyt matters like OP said. Focused more on my style, your boy was/is a fresh hipster lol, and having fun.

 

[maxamusa]

yea but not for me....all I cared about was coochie, smoking, and knowing where the party at