Val/Sal Talk

<p>How much of it occurs in your school/grade/class?</p>

<p>In my school, it's intoxicating. I hate it.</p>

<p>All they talk about is who is #1, #2, and how they desire to be there. They plan to sabotage or talk crap about one another, and fail to realize there can be more than one valedictorian.</p>

<p>They all think vals/and sals get full paid scholarships everywhere, and think they always get into great schools. They think if you're not the top 10 you suck, and think being val is the only thing to live for. Same goes for the sal.</p>

<p>This is all that my "friends" talks about, and I had an argument today on how I believe that it doesn't promise you anything, and that there are more important life things than being a sal.</p>

<p>a lot of people in my class talk about that kind of stuff too. but, it doesn’t bother me since they can plot and plan all they want, they’re still not gonna pass me! ;)</p>

<p>lol, I’m not even the val or sal of my class. I’m like #11 out of 618.
My dad said before I went to hs he wants me to be val of my class. I decided it was an empty goal after freshman year. The current val is such a chill and laidback guy, he’s awesome. Everyone else is tense.</p>

<p>I think there’s a certain feeling that comes with knowing you’re first. When I first found out (mid-sophomore year) my entire attitude about school changed. Plus, I’m waaaay more laid back than say the people from 2 through 10</p>

<p>I’m #1 in my class and that’s how I am, chill and laidback. The kids behind are the type that go home to study for huge tests every night just to get A’s. I personally don’t care all that much about my grades, it just so happens I get A’s. They are all hyperactive about testing too. After I got a 30 on the ACT, which you don’t need to tell me is not great, they were all hounding me about “how I did it” or “how much did I study”. It’s annoying.</p>

<p>^ I feel ya, nwgolfer!</p>

<p>2-10 are a bunch of crazy asians. I’m like the only black guy in the top 20 this year(Sophomore year).</p>

<p>I try telling people that being val is great, but it’s not val or nothing.
^^ I respect you for that. I got a 30 on my ACT, took it cold. They all asked how I did it and why I did it. I gave them a simple, “I know I’m ready.”</p>

<p>^? being val is great, but it’s not val or nothing… am I going insane or does that not make sense.</p>

<p>What I’m trying to say is, it’s good if you’re val. But you don’t need to have the mentality that not being val is a failure.</p>

<p>Gotcha. Agreed.
And props on the 30 cold. I bought a book off Amazon yesterday to see if I can get around a 33-34. There has got to be a reason people use these books</p>

<p>My school is too competitive to attempt rankings.</p>

<p>^ I like a no-ranking system.
I think my school is too competitive.</p>

<p>Intoxicating in my school as well.</p>

<p>What’s probably even more scary is that the entire school (I’m talking teachers, guidance counselors, vice principal, etc) makes such a big deal out of it. </p>

<p>To give you an idea: Last year, the vice president came on the intercom four times (right before exit day), screaming her head off at certain teachers to submit their grades so they could determine the val and sal for the graduating class. She was furious. Then, finally they announced the val over the intercom (which is embarrassing kinda), and yeah, no one cared at that point. </p>

<p>It seriously feels like it’s some kind of race.</p>

<p>I like freaking those people out. They know that I’m near the top, so I drop casual remarks about taking a bunch of extra APs online and laugh when they blanch with horror.</p>

<p>^^ Yeah, thank god that never happens. Our IB Coordinator is the only one with his head on somewhat straight. He says it’s a system for failure comparing yourself to others. He says we’re all smart, and that it’s pointless to compare your success based on the success of others.</p>

<p>^^ Lol the top 10 are just lucky to take advanced courses in middle school.</p>

<p>It’s really simple. Just don’t care… Don’t get annoyed by them, if they ask you why do you not care say “I am just as smart as I am whether I am ranked 1st or 20th, to pretend otherwise is nothing short of moronic”</p>

<p>That’s a good way to think about it… if people ever listened nowadays.</p>

<p>^ They do not, even the so called “intellegent” kids seem to not care at all about learning but only about grades. I believe the opposite.</p>

<p>Lol, MIT I dont want to be a *****… but you post about “OMG SCHEDULE” or “OMG SCHOOL” all the time. It’s hard to believe that you don’t care about not being in the top ten. Your threads have been about this general topic before… and I mean REALLY… what does this thread mean?</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/high-school-life/876127-so-future.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/high-school-life/876127-so-future.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>I think you are a bit more competitive then you are letting on.</p>