I’ve recently transferred to a new high school and I can’t help but feel like I’m literally the only person in the entire school that cares about my education. I’ve been at this school for two months now and haven’t made a single friend because I just don’t have the same mindset as the other kids. My previous school was so hard that this feels like a joke to me.
I am by no means a genius but half the class is literally falling asleep while I’m the only person raising my hand at school. And believe me I used to be this person a few years ago and it takes so much will not to go back to those bad habits. In the last year I’ve developed healthier sleeping habits, my gpa is at its highest and I have been trying extremely hard to stay away from procrastination but when it takes one entire math class for the teacher to explain one algebra problem that I can solve in a few seconds it bothers me. It bothers me that the other students are just wasting my time and the class time because they chose not to pay attention. I was really hoping to make friends who could help me study and value school as much as I do.
Sorry if it feels like I’m complaining but I’ve never been this far ahead of everyone and it makes me feel like I’m never doing anything productive. I just wanted to know if anyone has ever felt like this and how do you go about without wanting to scream at people’s lack of wanting to learn and deal with people around you who simply don’t care.
You should stay in your lane. Don’t worry about everyone else. Emgage with your teachers and just continue to be a positive example. (This will pay off at teacher recommendation time!). Maybe next semester you will make new friends. Have you tried more academically oriented clubs? Debate, speech, Quiz Bowl, academic bowl, science Olympiad, robotics, school newspaper — you might find more studious people at one of those.
In any event, continue to do as well as you can in HS, find some activities to get involved in – perhaps as suggested above some academic clubs in your HS or if you are miserable in HS find things in your community to get involved in.
Are you in honors classes? If not, get your parents to switch you. It may be too late for this year, but you should try. You could also consider a dual enrollment class or two, if those are available. Colleges will start a new semester in January, so you might be able to sign up for something at any time. Don’t worry about what others are doing. “To thine own self be true.”
Talk to your guidance counselor.
Are you in the right level courses?
I know sometimes it is hard to get into honors as a new student.
Otherwise, talk to your GC about dual enrollment and how you can take college classes while in HS.
Are you in the right level classes?
Can you register and take 1-2 Dual Enrollment classes at a local community college (see with your GC if they have a dual enrollment/concurrent enrollent/CollegeInTheSchools/PSEO program).
Yep. Peers can really make a difference in the academic setting. Sorry this is distressing for you. I may have missed the backstory, but - why did u transfer? Can u go back to the former school? I admire your enthusiasm to learn.
@HowardGradly I was out of the country for the last two years and went to a Cambridge curriculum private school while I was there and it was very challenging. Now that I’m back in the US I’m going to public school again.
I would say talk to your parents and see if they can move you to a more challenging school. If that’s not possible, do your homework as quickly as possible to get As and spend as much time reading as you can. When I was in your shoes in high school, I developed a self-study plan and started working my way through the public library. There was no internet back then to help me, but now you have tons of free online courses you could use to self study. Also, it might help to get involved in some intense EC at school that will challenge you in multiple ways, and if that’s not appealing, get involved with an out of school EC that will teach you different skills (like a privately-run robotics or debate club, or volunteer with a political party). Whatever you do, don’t succumb to the apathy mindset. See this as a time when you can develop your self-discipline and self-motivation skills. Also, use some of the extra time to explore career possibilities or get involved in a philanthropic organization.