<p>^^^
oh ok, my bad. i can totally understand where you are coming from.</p>
<p><em>le sigh</em></p>
<p>I realize that I don't possess awesome leadership skills; I'm not a politician, I'm extremely blunt, and I would rather blaze my own path that create a bandwagon. However, I'm pretty-well respected by teachers and students alike, and I don't think this is an illusion.</p>
<p>GoldShadow: I disagree with your "English class" analogy -- in there, I'm working for my own merit, and nobody else's work has any effect on me. NHS is a group that is expected to perform group activities, but nobody in the group want to nor thinks they need to perform those group activities, and therefore there is no reason to be part of the group any longer.</p>
<p>NHM: I'm of the opinion that even though a lot of the real world involves a heavy amount of ass-kissing, that doesn't mean I have to put up with it. All in all, you're basically saying that I never had the right qualifications to join NHS to begin with -- so aren't I doing them a service by quitting? O irony.</p>
<p>I love the president of our NHS chapter. She's popular, well-respected, and well-liked, and she gets along with everybody. But even she can't motivate the group to do anything. Anybody who tried to get this group to actually do something would probably be regarded as pure evil. I got voted secretary; our vice-president is the salutatorian who had no idea what was going the one time the president couldn't make it. Effective officers aren't the only ones who can make it work; effective advisers and effective members do.</p>
<p>So regard it as a statement. Is my resignation from one club that I put second-to-last on my activities list with totalling 5 hours/20 weeks in time going to jeopardize my admissions chances even if I take the time to explain the situation? The five hours I put down in the first place referred to the tutoring and website work that I do for my community service, not the time NHS spends planning and meeting things. And people say, if the only difference is that you're not going to be doing these things for NHS anymore, then why bother resigning to begin with -- because I'm tired of it, tired of the attitude, tired of complaining about it, tired of hearing others complain about it. Of course I'm conceited and naive -- I'm too rigid to bend to principles that I find ridiculous and unfair, and I'm too dumb to realize it hurts nobody but myself.</p>
<p>Yet somehow, I find that when I announce that I'm going to do something crazy (like write my driver ed paper on how driver ed is ineffective [and be the only person in the class doesn't kiss ass and gets a 100], or write a research paper on how administrative evaluations of teachers pretty much stink, or quit NHS despite the pressure against me), I invariably find other people who agree with me but don't want to do what I do because they think it's too much trouble and their lives are easier if they ride the waves. I move against the grain and I'm proud of that -- it's my character, you see.</p>
<p>I'm expecting a lot of "colleges don't like character" after this, now...>_></p>
<p>That sounds like a serious violation of the kid's right to privacy. That's very unethical for the sponsors to request for the student's list of colleges for any purpose... except to help him. Don't let them have it.</p>
<p>I applaud your reason for leaving NHS.</p>
<p>That was quite the application, by the way. Nice.</p>
<p>Northstarmom is precisely right. The OP very predictably ruffled some feathers. </p>
<p>Damage control could go something like: a letter from the OP to the colleges he's applied to simply stating that he wants to update his application by letting them know he has resigned from NHS. (If they want details--and they may--they'll ask. They may also add the letter to your file and be done with it.) He should bring a copy of the letter to his guidance counselor BEFORE sending it, during a heart-to-heart meeting in which he explains his original intent in writing that foolishness on the application and his regret for how he handled the whole situation (assuming he does...he certainly should) as well as all the details. The point of this meeting would be to seek help (guidance) from the guidance counselor (because you are mature enough to understand you really need it, 'cause you don't know it all) and to demonstrate that the OP is capable of being respectful toward authority, while also ascertaining that the counselor will continue to advocate for the contrite OP who understands the mistakes he has made but stands by his conviction that NHS is just not for him if (when?) the admissions offices inquire.</p>
<p>He should respectfully decline to give a list of schools he has applied to to anyone, while acknowledging that he screwed up and regrets it and letting them know he has already informed the schools of his withdrawal from NHS and talked with his guidance counselor (who will know that this is his plan and, hopefully, support it).</p>
<p>Good luck, OP.</p>
<p>It sounds like you are very judgemental of other people. Let me get this straight - you are the one with character, who stands up for whatever you believe in - at all costs. Everyone else in HS is an a**-kissing tool ? There is a vast spectrum of behaviors and motivations in between the two extremes. Sort of reminds me of the "I'm unique-you're a clone" arguments among HS students. (and between my 2 d !!)</p>
<p>Part of your motivation in all this seems to be to generate attention for yourself. Are your motives really as pure as you think ? Interesting, your words about "announcing" your intentions to write the papers about the ineffectiveness of Drivers Ed, or admin evals of teachers. Are you so sure the other students agree with you, or do they just encourage you so they can watch you put on a show ? This is an honest question. I have a young relative with behavioral problems - the other kids egg her on - unfortunately they enjoy the chaos that ensues, and watching her get in trouble. Then they can all gossip about her poor behavior and her reputation. (And this is in elementary school !!)</p>
<p>Also, the HS has a list of the colleges that they sent your transcript to - so it would be easy for them to update your NHS status as part of the mid-year grade reports. Our HS does not track student activities, but I understand that a lot do.</p>
<p>I think this student and the school deserve each other. The student seems to relish/cultivate his "rebel" status, and the advisers are wound too tight if they have the time to go out of their way to try to make the student look bad by tracking down his college apps. Both are coming across as a bit immature.</p>
<p>"Wen: Don't all the popular people just win all the elections?"</p>
<p>First, when I was in h.s., I was like many here -- a person who complained that high school elections were won by students who were popular, not necessarily the students whom I thought would do best in the position.</p>
<p>What I've learned since is that in virtually every election that is a real election (not a sham in which, for instance, people have the "choice" of voting for the country's dictator) the person who wins will be well liked and popular.</p>
<p>Virtually no one would choose a leader whom they don't like. Now, people may choose to work for bosses whom they dislike, but that's because they're getting paid. I've read that Bill Gates can be rude and hard to get along with, but his company is well respected and pays well, so people line up to work for him.</p>
<p>Just look at people in and running for political offices. When you check out their backgrounds, you'll find that those people were well liked throughout their lives. In fact, likeableness seems to be an important quality in determining who becomes elected president of the U.S. Bill Bradley and Al Gore, though really bright people, had difficulty getting votes because people viewed them as too intellectual or stiff. Yes, even at the national level popularity, social skills count a great deal. </p>
<p>So -- if you want to make a difference or get a leadership position, instead of complaining about how students choose classmates who are popular, find ways of being more likeable. I've noticed that having good listening skills, a good sense of humor, and being flexible, not vindictive, taking the time to connect with people, all can help people get elected to positions in high school and in other situations.</p>
<p>My biggest criticism of the OP is that he joined that fluffy, hypocritical excuse for an EC known as NHS in the first place, even though he saw it for what it was at the time.</p>
<p>I think various posters are right, though, that adcoms will look on his leaving more unfavorably than they would have if he had just never joined to begin with. And explanations are likely to come out wrong.</p>
<p>Notifying colleges that you resigned from NHS seems ridiculous to me. At the time he sent his apps, OP was in the club and had apparently participated as documented. It is an outrageous invasion of privacy for NHS advisors (are these adults?) to threaten to notify the colleges themselves. In my mind, this confirms that OP made the correct decision to quit.</p>
<p>There is something cheap and duplicitious
about NHS when the office bearers are likely to be least associated with
honor.</p>
<p>:rolleyes:</p>
<p>thricedotted: You're kind of my idol.</p>
<p>It's hardly naive/arrogant to stand up for your ideals. You rock. I wish I had half as much chutzpah as you.</p>
<p>I don't know about you, but any academic institution that would penalize me for standing up for my ideas would not be a place I'd like to attend. So my advice would be to send a letter explaining the situation (a nicely-worded, non-aggressive letter), and perhaps you'll be respected for your integrity. I could imagine a few LACs (among other institutions) praising you for this action. And as I just said, any school that would reject you based on this...would you really want to be there anyway?</p>
<p>Good luck with whatever you decide to do.</p>
<p>To those who somehow think that the OP should be applauded for "standing up for his ideals," how is what he did standing up for his ideals? This is what he said in his application letter to NHS:
"There are, quite simply, two major reasons for why I would like to become a member of National Honor Society: first, because I need anything and everything I can get when it comes to college applications, and second, because I don't think my mother would find a complete rejection of this application acceptable and I should take every opportunity I can get to beef up my college credentials. Of course, there is the added benefit of the permanent hall pass, which, although trivial, would rid me of some small fraction of the hassle I must contend with throughout the school day. I have a feeling that these are exactly the wrong answers to your question, but I believe that if a private poll were done among the applicants to your venerable society, all of these reasons would rank far above any student's desire to be represented in one of our school's finest organizations and the honor it entails and their insatiable lust for do-gooding and such. To be honest, I am almost unsure of whether I truly desire to be a part of this or not, since this application procedure in itself necessitates such an amount of what my peers and I crudely refer to as "BS-ing" (and I apologize for this crudeness, but the crime in itself is one quite vulgar) that it would seem that no contrast can be made between persons of integrity and the hypocrites who are content with giving the obvious answers. "</p>
<p>If he had been standing up for his ideals, he wouldn't have applied, wouldn't have accepted an invitation to join, and wouldn't have put on his application his membership in an organization that he thinks is hypocritical.</p>
<p>Instead of wasting his time by applying to an organization that he despised, he would have spent his time pursuing activities that supported his ideals.</p>
<p>Sneering at people and the joining their organization and listing it on his app reflects badly on him. In fact, he comes across as worse than his peers because he's complaining about hypocrisy while taking most of the same actions that his peers did. The only thing he appeared to do differently was insult the people whose organization he'd decided to join.</p>
<p>He seems to think that he's the only person associated with the club with good values and ideals, but his way of doing things calls in question his perspective about the whole organization. People with good values don't spend their time tearing down other people and organization, but supporting and building people and organizations that support the things that they themselves do believe in.</p>
<p>It's always much easier to complain about others than to do something that really is positive.</p>
<p>There are people who consider the NHS anything other than useless application filler?</p>
<p>I have seen NHS chapters that really did important community service. I have known students, including one of my sons, who were attracted to NHS because of the community service, and who organized community service -- out of their own interest in helping others, not because they were trying to look good to colleges. </p>
<p>You will find that even in the world of adult professionals, virtually any civic or professional organization will attract many people who are interested in only their own gain. There always, however, will be a small group who is serious about being involved to do things like: help others; improve the professionalism of their field, etc. Those are always the people who end up doing most of the work, which typically is back breaking.</p>
<p>The others will show up only to complain and to enjoy the parties.</p>
<p>That's life. Admissions officers know this, and that's why they aren't going to have much empathy for a student who seems to think it reflects integrity to insultingly join an organization that he didn't think much of, to use that organization to his advantage by including it on college apps, and then to quit complaining about things that he never ever liked about the organization anyway, and didn't do anything that resulted in changing the organization for the better.</p>
<p>Oh, the fact that apparently the student is resigning from the "corrupt" NHS only after he got into Chicago EA (something I learned from his other posts) seems to underscore the fact that he was willing to belong to this "corrupt" organization only as long as it seemed to meet his needs.</p>
<p>
[QUOTE]
Notifying colleges that you resigned from NHS seems ridiculous to me. At the time he sent his apps, OP was in the club and had apparently participated as documented.
[/QUOTE]
</p>
<p>You may have a point there. The OP should definitely consult the guidance counselor on the question of whether he even needs to notify the colleges.</p>
<p>Hey folks, I'm female. Please stop referring to me as "he."</p>
<p>May I once again reiterate that I didn't reject my acceptance because I thought, maybe, that this would be the year we changed? This would be the year something happened, something was done? It turns out I was wrong, sadly enough. I'll admit that I don't have the leadership skills to change it; if I could join up with a group of people who did, then there would be power in numbers.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Oh, the fact that apparently the student is resigning from the "corrupt" NHS only after he got into Chicago EA (something I learned from his other posts) seems to underscore the fact that he was willing to belong to this "corrupt" organization only as long as it seemed to meet his needs.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Excuse me? I most likely won't be going to Chicago, it's financially inviable. It's the rest of my schools I'm concerned about right now -- and besides, I don't think a school like Chicago would be impressed by seeing "NHS" on my application. In fact, I think most people on CC agree that the admission officers of any school have good BS detectors. As for your opinion that I'm overly judgmental...pot, meet kettle? I'm sorry, of course my generalities don't apply to everybody. Also, I don't "announce" to people what I'm doing -- there are eight people right now who know that I'm leaving: the five who showed up to the meeting early, the advisers, my GC. Oh, and my parents -- that makes ten. I've gotten mixed responses here on CC, but it looks as though there are more people who agree that their local NHS chapters are pretty much for show; the one your son was involved in seems to be an exception.</p>
<p>Five minutes until the bell rings, so I'm going to rush.</p>
<p>I spoke with my guidance counselor earlier today -- she was one of the people who read my original application, and says that she would only try to stop me from doing something if she knew it would make or break my apps, and she says this won't. My official resignation letter says that I choose to leave because I have concerns about the lack of things happening, so to speak, and--</p>
<p>There's the bell. I'll continue this later.</p>
<p>NSM #48 ></p>
<p>Sorry, I explained it a bit better in a later post (#40). I have no problem with popularity being part of the reason that someone is elected. That's typically a HUGE part- And I agree, especially with elections in the real world- The majority of voters don't have stronger reasons as to why they voted for their presidential candidate. </p>
<p>I just don't think that popularity should be the only deciding factor and that other shortcomings should be ignored because of it... (again, see post #40).</p>
<p>And I don't think I'm exactly vindictive- it sounded a little more cynical than I would have liked. It's hard to convey tone well over the computer. I still enjoy the club- the community service I do through it helped me get a job that I really really love (and that will really help me with my career plans). I just mostly think it's odd that an officer is getting away with not doing any service at all, when a normal member in that situation would have been kicked out.</p>
<p>' I just mostly think it's odd that an officer is getting away with not doing any service at all, when a normal member in that situation would have been kicked out.'</p>
<p>I agree that that situation shouldn't be occurring. Reminds me of a NHS chapter I knew of in which the president didn't have the average that was required to be long to NHS, and several officers hadn't done the required community service.</p>