On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being a total nerd, and 10 being you pranced around on water, how cool were you? I’d venture to guess most people will say they were a 6 or 7 out of modesty or delusion. Heck, I think I was a 6.2 on the coolness scale in high school too!
It’s so funny looking back at those high school years. Very few knew for sure exactly what they wanted to do and many of us just wanted to fit in. It’s funny how much youthful angst pervaded the halls. Some had low self-esteem, while others were full of confidence and could do no wrong.
In good old fashion Dear Diary time, I reflect on those good old days and hopefully you’ll share some stories too.
THE “COOL” PARTS
* Was the captain of the tennis team my junior and senior year and played varsity all four years.
* Started a “Mens Club” with 60 members as a joke, which became real. We basically made a lot of noise, did a lot of stupid stuff, and chanted our theme in the halls. The Mens Club was the opposite of the National Organization of Women’s (NOW) club. Our acronym was MOM (Men of M….)
* Ran track for two years and raced in the 100m, 200m, and 400m. Was able to hang tight with our football running backs.
* Rode a motor bike senior year with no license.
* Suspended for punching a friend in the face because he pushed me over while I was tying my shoe.
* Skipped school probably 3-4 times a year to mess around with my buddies.
* Managed to get three girls to call me their boyfriend and broke up with all of course.
* Started sitting in the back of the class, until I found out that sitting in the middle of the class made me more invisible. Had trouble staying awake because of too much tennis practice and studying after school.
* Understood what happy faces on little square tabs of paper meant and how much a sheet cost.
* I can shot gun a beer in 2 seconds and was a top tier quarters player.
* Always traveled overseas during the summer thanks to friends I made abroad who invited me to stay. Summer time abroad is nuts!
THE “UNCOOL” PARTS
* Rode a bike or walked to school every year until my senior year because I was too poor to buy my own. My parents finally bought me a $2,000 hatchback junker with a discolored door. Hence, I decided to buy this sweet motorbike as an addition.
* Ate in the library often because I liked to study, was paranoid of not doing well, and I loved books. Felt out of place in the cafeteria sometimes.
* Liked to BBS and developed massive points to download as much “warez” that I wanted.
* Loved computers and knew how to build my own 486 with TDFX graphics cards of course.
* Developed some enemies with punk kids who were considered really cool, but I didn’t respect them. I’m not one to shy away from confrontation and will get in trouble sometimes.
* Won the AP History award for most outstanding history student.
* Got a partial scholarship academic scholarship in college.
* Punched my friend in the face leading to some wondering what’s wrong with me.
* Was too worried about injury to play cornerback in football even though the coach kept asking me every year.
* Couldn’t try out for baseball despite having a huge passion for the game because it coincided with tennis season. There were no female groupies following the tennis guys.
* Never tried out for the basketball team, even though I practiced almost every single day. Didn’t want to get cut, so didn’t try.
* Got rejected by a sophomore girl my junior year, which was sad. But, maybe it was because I went out with her older sister for a little bit! I thought love was blind?
* Lived in a very humble townhouse and never had much money at all.
COOLNESS DOESN’T MEAN MUCH
So there you have it. I was never the Prom King, and didn’t have massive house parties, but I felt I was cool enough to fit in. I clearly remember so many of the cool kids making fun of others who did well in school. They’d make fun of those who sat in the first two rows of class and who enjoyed the arts. Shoot, I think I may have even said something to the annoying front row geeks who kept raising their hands too!
There’s a great quote that says, “Be nice to nerds, for you might be working for one some day.” With the most uncool of people starting up enormous empires and running some of the biggest corporations in the world, there’s a lot of credibility to the saying!
As adults now, it’s funny to reminisce on how immature high school was. There was absolutely no reason to be insecure about anything! What mattered was not cocking things up so you could have options to do whatever you wanted after graduation!
How cool were you cool in school? What would you give yourself 1-10? Where are the cool kids now? Are bloggers generally nerds? Were you ever the mean bully?!
What were several of your cool and uncool things in high school?
Regards,
Sam
I’d give myself a 2 or 3 (quite nerdy). I had some athletic ability, but not really enough to shine in the spotlight. And, my acne held me back a little…..seemed like puberty lasted forever! My looks were much better in the 3rd or 4th year of college. Then I met my beautiful wife – so it all worked out! :)
Can’t see a 2 or 3 from your gravatar Derek! You got a winnig smile! That’s great you met your wife in college!
I was pretty geeky so I would definitely give myself a 2 I’d say. I wasn’t that athletic and having gone to an all-boys high school, that didn’t go over well. I was in band (which did add to the geek factor) but I won some respect by being the only person that took gym as an elective (you didn’t have to take gym if you were in band).
Hmmm…. i can see your predicament mate, as a non athletic fella at an all boys HS. You must done something really rebellious to bring you to a 5 or higher no?!
I’d give myself a 2 or 3. I took all honors classes, played tennis (but not particularly well.) But I had my own group of friends and never needed more. I fit in to my niche. I wasn’t one of those unfortunate kids that just doesn’t fit in with anyone, or is a bit too desperate to get everyone to like them. But I did take all honors classes, and peer tutor freshmen when I was a junior.
Regarding the “be nice to smart kids” quote – in college, I knew 2 guys, met in different classes. One had been a dork in school, one had been one of the “cool kids” who blew off school to hold big all-day parties when his parents were away – this “cool kid” had bullied the dork in school. As an adult, I don’t hold it against the first guy for being a dork, but I lose a lot of respect for the second guy after finding out that he bullied people in school.
Kellen, 2 or 3 is really low… you sure you’re not selling yourself short? Some chicks really dig the tennis player you know.
I’ll give myself a 7. I was captain of the swim team and played football, but was also a straight A student and a choir nerd. Thinking back to those days, I always related “coolness” to your friends. I was on a first name basis with the hottest girl in school, but not nearly cool enough to date her or even hang out with her outside of school. Give me a 7.
OK, 7 it is. What position did you play in football? Shit, I wanted to play corner back so bad, but I was afraid to get injured or get a concussion like my buddy who played. It would ruin my tennis season. I was basically built like Darrell Green from the Redskins in HS and just wanted to be like him.
High school was not my time. I’d say I was about a 3 on a good day. Not only did I also walk to school until the last two months of my senior year, I couldn’t wait to get out! I hated HS. I don’t remember doing any homework or classwork, but somehow passed with B’s. When I’d ditch school ( which was often) I’d walk to the local college and hang out. I just couldn’t wait to be an adult! Soon after HS, I realized what being adult really meant. I moved out one money after graduation and supported myself. What a dummy I was!
Haha, to other high schoolers like me you probably seemed cool, or maybe a little scary! I only ditched school a couple of times senior year, and only for super important things, like enjoying the really nice weather ;)
“Not my time”, love it! You sure you didn’t quit class to go smoke the apple bong in the woods next door?! If so, your coolness factor goes to an 8!
No. That was reserved for when I would sneak out in the middle of the night through my window. I was a very naughty teenager. Guess I was making up for my goody-two-shoes primary years. ;)
I’d probably be a 6 or 7 – I was sometimes a slacker, but usually worked hard. I swam all 4 years and was on the wrestling team for 2 years, so I knew a lot of people. Never had a girlfriend though, thankfully.
Cool, fellow athlete. Why were you thankful not to have a gf? GFs were awesome in HS!
High school GF’s were heaps of trouble piled on heaps of trouble!
On the contrary, they were the most awkwardly best relationships ever!
I am not sure if I was cool…but I did have a great group of friends (that I am still tight with), we partied WAY TOO MUCH, most of us were involved in a sport BUT we did care about grades for the most part. I’ll roll with that 6 or 7.
Having tight friends in HS who are still tight friends years after college is the epitome of cool! I wish we all had that.
Four of the buddies were in my wedding party (the other half made up of college friends). The other 4 were ushers since I felt terrible I couldn’t ask them to be up there with me.
I’d give myself a 4. I got along with everybody, and was friends with some of the coolest people. However, that was my strong suit, getting along with people. Otherwise, I had the following uncool attributes:more reserved in general, a very good student, and was cut from the baseball team junior year. I had really good skills, but just not athletic enough to make varsity.
I would say I came of age in college. It was much more fun!
Dang, I feel you about the baseball team cut. At least you TRIED OUT! Well, I woulda tried out but it was the exact same season as tennis. Third base was my passion. I LOVED getting rocket balls coming at me and trying to ground hop and throw em out at first.
Alas, someone told me in 9th grade that tennis would be better for longevity and social reasons down the line, so i stuck with it.
I never stayed at a school for more than 2 years, so… let’s just say it was a very turbulent time and I never really got settled into any particular school, and I did not really “live”. Sometimes I imagine though being able to start over with everything I know now and all the things I would do differently, but I was paralyzed at the time due to my own mind. So I’ll have to give myself a 1 or a 2 here.
I thought some of the coolest kids were the nomads who drifted every 1-2 years? You know, like the Breakfast Club and stuff? I think you get a 6.5 at least. Did you ever wear a black trench coat??
I ate lunch in the library too! lol But there was no other time that I had to myself for reading. But the rebel in me planned our senior prank. Unfortunately we got caught in the middle and I almost didn’t get to walk across the stage at graduation!
Do tell more about what the senior prank was!
I was a 3… probably still am! I wasn’t so nerdy that I stood out, but not really cool enough to stand out, either. I had (and still have) a small but very close circle of friends. People who knew (know) me like me… those who judged me on only the surface probably didn’t (don’t). That said, I never minded not being “cool” in school. I didn’t mind not being in the cool crowd as long as I was left alone and not picked on, and thankfully that was generally the case. I was in band and speech/debate in school… pretty much considered uncool in most circles but both programs were huge at my school so it actually gave me a little bit of a cool factor! Our marching band was Ohio’s largest HS marching band at the time! :) (Feel free to downgrade my 3 to a 2.7 after that little brag, if you see fit.)
Wow… largest marching band in Ohio? I will raise your cool factor to a 4! You’re selling yourself short!
I would actually give myself an 8-9, making me the coolest yakezie member. But that’s like saying you’re the best looking waitress at Denny’s, right? kidding! I played the odd combination of basketball and tennis and I dated the best looking girl in school (this is what gave me “credibility”). I would’ve given up being a jock had a known that Dirk Diggler was a category.
Looking back now, I’d probably say a 5, give or take 1 or 2 spots on any given day. I thought I was cool, but now I would guess that thinking you’re cool is not very cool. I did things like skipped my in-school lunch period every single day as a freshman, so that I could go outside to lunch with my Junior and Senior friends (I served Saturday detention every week for it as well), but on the other hand, I was often the only one in my English classes that would have literary discussions with my teachers. I was in a death metal band, but I also played classical guitar to accompany a Shakespeare theater performance. I had friends in a lot of different cliques, because I guess I was always just interested in different things. Ah high school, I could go on all day telling stories, but sometimes I have nightmares that I never graduated and I’m still in the hallways between classes.
Hey Max, if you were in a death metal band AND played classical guitar, I give you a 9! haha
I think I’d give myself a 5. I think on some things, I was a 7 or so – like ditching school and staying out late with friends, but on others I was like a 2-3, like being a computer nerd!
Mmm, probably 7-8. Had lots of friends, lots of fun, but didn’t get a lot of girls in hs; just 2 girlfriends senior year pretty much, so not exactly stud material at that age. College was WAY cooler, I got jacked, fraternity, whole gig. That’s where I felt much more comfortable with my self-esteem (and met my awesomely hot wife!!!). Anyway, I’ve done a lot of reflecting over the years about egging the houses of the band kids and mocking “nerds” in HS. I was never a ringleader, but never stood up and defended these poor kids and now that I’m a parent, it annoys me to no end to see kids being mean to each other. You don’t think like an adult when you’re a kid. I think these days kids have a bit more compassion, there’s a lot more education on bullying and finally… nerds are cool now. They invent stuff, make lots of money and they’re portrayed much more favorably in movies and TV than when we grew up.
Damn, why did you have to egg the houses of the band kids? So mean man. Bully!
Eh, I forgot about the egging. People went absolutely bad shit insane at the last HS I went to every halloween… lol. It’s true, at that age you mostly just think about having fun and not so much the consequences.
Well, in retrospect, it wasn’t cool. Back then at 15 driving around in a car with a senior doing “crazy” stuff just seemed cool. I was a follower and didn’t have the foresight to say “This isn’t cool”. We also got stopped by the cops and my friend put a bunch of eggs in his pants. That didn’t end well. Oh, the memories…
Wow-don’t want to revisit high school!!! I’m happier now than then and much smarter and more confident (thank goodness)!!
Oh come on. Revisiting HS is cathartic! :)
In terms of coolness, I was probably fairly high on the outside, I’d say an 8 or so. Mostly because of the instant status of being captain of the basketball team. When you hang out with basketball players you naturally develop a bit of a strut and it tempered my “whiteness” a little. On the inside, I was a politically active geek (what is less cool today than actually voting… wait that’s a little sad) who got several partial scholarships to university and wanted to be an English teacher when he grew up. I should mention that I drove a 20-year old Cadillac Deville which I’m fairly certain would jump most people to a 10 on the majority of scales, but since forming something called “the Men’s Club” only gets you a 6.2, then I think my standards are just lower than most!
Nice! How did you guys do? What position did you play? Basketball is my first love, but I would always get injured. I loved shooting the 3!
Yeah, the Men’s Club was ridiculous! Our acronym was MOM (Men of My high schools name). I think some of the girls really hated us.
I played the point (could always play offence well, but didn’t have the foot speed for defence – no matter how many agility ladders I did). We were really good for a small town basketball team. I personally played one year at the University of Manitoba (probably roughly equivalent to a decent Div II team) and then decided to pursue other interests (mostly boxing).
Cool. How were the female groupies?
Great stories Sam! I was and still am nerdy lol. I didn’t hang out with the popular kids because I couldn’t relate and was always on the quiet side. I studied a lot and had a few close friends I couldn’t have made it through without. I actually recently wrote about how I changed schools bc my public hs was too dangerous. My new school really changed me for the better and helped me gain confidence. I learned a lot in hs but am so glad to have it over with!
I read your story about your parents sacrificing everything for your education. That’s great you got to go to a better, more nurturing school. Confidence and not caring about the critics is SO IMPORTANT! Keep it up!
I was a 1-2. I personally had a horrible time in school. I got sick as a young child and that just opened me up to ridicule, torture, bullying, etc. It started when I was in kindergarden and continued from there. Even once I was healthy again I never fit in. I actually hated my schoool days and couldn’t wait to graduate and get out of there. The one positive thing that came about it is I learned how to perservere and carry on. I think I am stronger person today because of it.
Thanks for sharing. I’m glad you’re better now! No doubt you got stronger because of that experience growing up.
I would give myself 5, not because I was more cool or not, but definitely not nerdy. I was a good student in a prep school andI played football, participated in leadership and a few clubs. Going to a boarding school was all consuming (24/7) and you wanted to be accepted. I don’t think I came into my own until college, probably because I graduated early.
I will give myself a 5. I knew I did well in school – maintained good grades to keep the scholarships, represented the school to compete in several contests, etc. But, of course, I also had my share of fun. Got tipsy from afternoon drinking with friends but still went to class and had a great discussion with the professor, and more…
Really, really not. I had glasses, bad skin, no boobs and was in the accelerated class.
I did have a boyfriend (who was cooler than me and fully ingratiated himself into the popular crowd after we broke up), played guitar and was thin, at least – although I think that caused more envy/jealousy rather than helping my cause sometimes.
The cool kids? I dunno… a fair few are off doing the traditional Kiwi OE working and backpacking their way through Europe. I don’t really think many of them made a whole lot of themselves. It was more the borderline ones – the ones who were smart and did well in school but were still somewhat part of the popular crowd, who have done well, and of course, us nerds.
Haha, sounds good. That’s cool you played the guitar! That’s very cool in my book, b/c I can’t play worth kaka, but I try!
If by coolness you mean popularity, I’d say about an 8. If coolness is something other than popularity, I have no idea. I was the cheerleader/good girl. No bullying, but we did tend to travel in packs and were probably kind of exclusionary (is that a word?) which I regret today. My popularity was no doubt helped by the fact that I went to a college prep magnet school where everyone was was smart, so there didn’t make you uncool.
8 is high! Nice job :). Sounds like you were nice person during school which is very cool!
Your posting is getting a lot of response — what a great topic! I recently went to a high school reunion, and it was fun to see that many of the people who were considered nerds are now extremely successful and happy. If only, in high school, we could be self assured enough to follow our interests without caring so much about what people think. I try to encourage my kids to do this.
Awesome! Hope your kids do great and recognize your teachings as well!
Let’s see-third in my class-nerd
Statistician for the football team-nerd
Drove mom’s Impala-when I drove-nerd
Our backyard football and basketball games were the place to be in the neighborhood-not so nerdy.
Put up “those who can DO, those who can’t TEACH-on my physics teacher’s bulletin board-that got me in a little hot water. Nerd or just a jerk….
US President of NATIONAL honor society in college and member of college board-not quite so nerdy-or maybe super nerdy.
Went to medical school at age 19-super nerdy.
Didn’t care or bother me that I was a nerd-that gives me a 10 in my book!
Just kidding, I report-you decide!!!!
Wow! I’m thoroughly impressed Doc! What gave you that drive at such a young age?
I give Doctors +3, except for the ones who only spend 30 seconds evaluating. So you’re good!
Med school at 19? Very impressive to say the least. Halfway to ‘Doogie Howser’ territory :)
Haha, I was intentionally the “different” girl who totally embraced her role as the iconoclast. I live by the theory: “If You Can’t Live it Down, Play It Up.” I knew I’d never, ever be the cute blond prom queen cheerleader, so I didn’t try. I ran with the iconoclast, non-conformist identity and made friends with people who did the same.
Molly: I had very cool older siblings and rode on their coat-tails. Driving a VW Thing didn’t hurt things either. Really, very dorky- I wanted to be a fashion designer and would wear my own creations to school. My dad always loved to see what I was wearing!
Mike: I was a total introvert.
Molly: Surprise!- but you always had a girlfriend.
I was about an 8. I had some pretty hot girls so that bumped me up a bit. Plus I did a performance that catapulted me into higher numbers. Performing on stage is what got me married with 2 kids and kept me at an 8. At least in my wife’s eyes.