Open Letter to My High School, Who Didn't Prepare Me for College | The Odyssey Online
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Open Letter to My High School, Who Didn't Prepare Me for College

High School is Not The Same as College

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Open Letter to My High School, Who Didn't Prepare Me for College
Sheri Handel

Recently, I have noticed that I am not the only one who is starting to notice how unprepared for the real world they really are, and how a corrupt school system can effect young minds. I can say, from a first hand experience, that my high school didn't prepare me for half of the things I have already had to deal with my freshmen year of college. This letter is for the people who made us students figure out these things on our own.

Dear High School,

Thank you for... well, nothing. I have learned my basic math, english, history, chemistry, biology, etc... but did I really learn anything else? No one ever taught me how to prepare for finals properly (we didn't have those). The teachers were never enforced to teach us how to take responsibility for our work, but rather enforced to simply pass. Most of my teachers were fantastic, and I was lucky to get the ones who taught us what the school system failed to implement. Meanwhile, our school system was more concerned with dress codes and parking permits rather than their teachers and students. They were more concerned with the passing rate, that they failed to recall what passing really meant.

Now that I'm in college what I have learned is:

There is no such thing as "an infinite amount of retakes," there is no such thing as a "50% rule" you get the grade you actually earned on the test (even if it is below a 50), you take responsibility and integrity in every piece of work you do, and lastly respect will get you a long way in college.

It is actually amusing to watch people's faces light up with confusion when I try to explain all of the backwards "rules" our teachers have to abide by, and how easy our students have it at times.

To all of the students reading this, do yourself a favor and remember it is a whole different world than what our school system has prepared us for.


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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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