I’ve been hanging around some high school aged kids lately. Despite feeling inspired and pretty hopeful about most of the kids I meet – I keep having this sense of sadness about the public intensity of what used to be a more private teenage experience.
Some examples.
As a high school student in California I was a runner. I ran a lot, and I ran pretty fast. Some times it would end up in a small black and white photo in a local newspaper a week after the event. Now – kids who are doing the same thing (except running way faster than I ever did) have their mug shot all over social media pre race, during the race and post race. It seems intense, intense and probably distracting. These standout athletes are growing an ability to hone their focus even more as a response to a more distracting environment. I remember having bad races and excellent races. I was glad that the bad races were forgotten, and was glad that great races had what seemed like the right amount of “air time” in a local paper. Its so much more intense now.
Another example.
What is with the senior photo / glamor shot photo sessions? This is seriously out of control. Here is my senior picture. I am pretty sure we had 2 choices: take a photo in your cap and gown, or if you were a female, clothes pin this strange black velvet shawl on yourself. Those were your choices. 1 of 2. Everyone sat in the same black studio for their etched into history high school mug shot. The senior photos that I am seeing now are off the hook! Clearly there is make up, hair, outfit coordination, and location selection involved. What does this have to do with graduating high school? If you want to have a glammed up photo session go for it – but lets not call it SENIOR PICTURES. It just seems like TOO MUCH.
To the inspiring, hopeful and paying attention seniors who I have spent time with this season – Carry on. Carry on in your Coconut Wireless Life. All the normal days are without media posts or glamor shots. What the world can use more of is just regular people doing regular good. Lets keep that the baseline.
High School kids of Hilo – Thanks for the inspiration these last few weeks.