I’ve always been considered different than my peers. At first I hated it, after awhile I got used to it and eventually I learned to love it. I think, in order to do the same, you have to gravitate toward a profession and people who share your view of life then pleasantly say the hell with everyone else. I also believe that you should put yourself and your goals above everyone and everything else. Oddly enough, by doing so you actually become a better team player. When you’re taking care of your own business and not someone else’s you actually become more competent. It will help your conscience, however, if you’re goals are a pinch altruistic. But if they’re not, screw it, go for them anyway.
Teachers can be a problem. Most of them are either mediocre or idiots. If they weren’t then why aren’t they out in the world changing things? Some have actually done things and are “giving back” by teaching what they know. These doers can be useful with their practical knowledge. Use them. As far as the others are concerned, butter them up to get better grades even if you don’t deserve them. Do things to make them like you even if you hate their guts. I’m afraid practicality can be cold, but it is necessary. Otherwise you’ll end up a Prozac mess.
I’ll close by saying that college is a lot different than high school. I think it may appeal to your natural tendency to be different. But don’t let it lull you in and make you lazy or go off on some . In today’s world students have to be ruthless because of the price they’re paying for their devalued education. I think that soon the price of a college degree will outweigh the cost of not having one. In fact, I’m becoming less and less enamored with the traditional route of doing well in school then going to some company, hat in hand, begging for a job. With America’s loss of economic stature everyone is going to have to be more creative and entrepreneurial. For someone with an artistic bent I would learn all I could about computer graphics and kick start your own creative enterprise, maybe even before you graduate; Bill Gates never got a degree you know. For me, that would mean something involving cartoons and animation. At any rate, good luck with the rest of your life and I hope that I’ve given you some good ideas.
Thanks. I know a degree is not needed to be successful but the degree I am going for will teach me what I need to learn to better my art. I took an animation course at a n art school when I was in 7th grade. It was different and interesting but very hard and not something that’s a lot of fun. I thought about cartoons and comics for the longest time, and even bought a tablet to get into computer graphics but none of that felt as fulfilling as fine arts, which was the last thing I thought I would enjoy.
Clarissa, don’t worry, there’s life after high school. I remember when I went to get my senior picture taken, the woman at the photography studio wistfully said, “Ah, high school! Those were the best years of my life!” I thought, God I sure hope not, or I might as well kill myself right here and now!
But college was much, much better, and work even better still.
The Fountainhead was a big help to me in letting go of the worries about fitting in socially. And, once you can completely let go of the worries and just be who you are, it actually becomes easier to fit in.
Don’t let the turkeys get you down… and welcome to the site!
I had a teacher say they same thing and I remember just feeling horrified because high school felt the opposite, but I am really excited about college. A lot of the people I went to school with are miserable about starting college and having to work, but I am really excited about all of it. I don’t worry at all anymore and I have met a lot of people in the past year, who are nothing more than friends of a friend, but were much easier to get along with and talk with now that I am not worried about how others perceive me and how to fit in. Thanks!
Hi, Clarissa. I wondered if you have any of your art posted online, and if you might like to show it? Also, what kind of music *do* you like, if you like any?
Hi.
http://philadelphia-89.deviantart.com/ though I am terrible about posting art regularly, I do get better at it. TOOL, Interpol, Amy Whinehouse, Marilyn Manson (before his last album), Slipknot, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Billie Holiday, A Perfect Circle, Olivia Lufkin, Prodigy, Rammstein,…A lot of rock from the 90’s and early 2000’s. I find myself going back to older music.