Ok, so for a change this post isn’t going to be cynical and insulting. Well, actually, it probably will be. But this time, it’s not really the point. I think.
They (Not sure who they is, I guess media and popular belief) always say people in high school form cliques. I’m usually against stereotyping, but this is probably pretty true. So, I’ve decided to try and compile a list of all the different categories that people fall under at AHS. It’s not going to be 100% accurate (maybe not even 50%), and of course, people may not fit cleanly into a category. But these are just social observations from a very anti-social person.
Also note that I’m not targeting or discussing any one person. That wouldn’t be a sterotype group then. And I’m also not going to mention names, because that would be awkward. Starting off with something familiar to all of us…
The Nerd
These are of course, the people that take over 9000 AP’s, and who get very little, if any, sleep. They are probably the ones who will be going to Caltech, MIT, and the Ivy leagues. They are probably what every Asian parent wants their child to be, but of course, they will still not make their parents happy, resulting in conflict. Coupled with this overachieving academically is severe underachieving socially. They usually stay within their circle of friends, and don’t talk to other, whether it be teachers, more social people, or anyone of the opposite gender.
Appearence: Clothes typically bought by parents at Ross/Target, sweatpants, because jeans are uncomfortable, possibly glasses, overall lack of grooming/hygiene (I said I wouldn’t mention names, but since he’s already in Stanford anyway… Jason Jong, who only washed his hair every few days, because he claimed it helped develop natural oils. Or something like that. It doesn’t help that he was discussing this because a girl had just put her hand in his hair, and wondered why it didn’t come out dry.)
Characteristics: Social awkwardness, possible cyncism/depression, strange quasi-philosophical ideas (See-this blog)
Classes: As many AP’s as possible. And then fill the rest with honors.
Activities: Orchestra, “volunteering” at hospitals or for random clubs, SAT prep, anything else that supposedly helps on college apps
Hobbies: MMORPG video games, anime, studying/doing math and science, stupidly daydreaming
Seen (at school): Doing homework that was procrastinated until the day of, sleeping, discussing nerdy stuff
Parents: Archetypal Asian parent, overconcerned about grades, bad temper, you know the rest…
College Preferences: Ivy Leagues, Stanford, Caltech, MIT…Backup: UC’s…Next backup: kill self…Final backup: PCC
The Basketball Player
This is different from people that are actually on the basketball team. That would be a different category. These people enjoy playing basketball in their spare time, and are pretty good at it. Though not good enough to play on the team, of course. They are usually pretty good academically-not as much as the nerds, but taking a fair share of difficult classes. Socially, they aren’t the greatest, but they are certainly proficient, and some date. They also seem to enjoy communicating with each other online, whether through games or social networking. Also note that despite the name, they don’t have to play basketball to fit into this group. There are plenty that share these characteristics but aren’t.
Appearance: Basketball shorts, some “fashion sense” but not anything major
Characteristics: Can usually get along well with people, have good sense of humor
Classes: Lots of AP’s, though usually a bit less than the max possible
Activities: Clubs, usually doing more than just trying to get volunteer hours there, SAT prep, study groups with other students
Hobbies: Basketball, DoTA (Defense of the Ancients, I’ve been told), HoN (No idea what that stands for), maybe facebook
Seen: In inspired discussions about how they owned that guy last night playing one of the aforementioned games, playing basketball, making jokes
Parents: Probably same as the nerdy people, though just a tinge less strict
College Preferences: UC’s, possibly unrealistic aspirations at Stanford
The Rich Kid
We all hate San Marino, with their new-looking campus, their luxury cars, and their smugness. But there are plenty of wealthy people in Arcadia too. Their parents are probably wealthy Asian business people that decided to send their kids to a relatively wealthy Asian school. They then probably ignored their kids, other than to give them whatever material goods they asked for.
Appearance: Name-brand clothes, possibly one of those flattened baseball caps, a $500 wallet…which contains much more in value than that
Classes: Basic requirements, probably won’t get placed in the totally lowest class, but just in regular, trying to get a C (Because then their parents will buy stuff for them)
Activities: None, really. Just a bunch of hobbies.
Hobbies: Mountain biking, go-karting, paintball shooting, looking at expensive cars, shopping, anything than demonstrates their wealth
Seen: Discussing the latest (Insert expensive thing here) that came out, and all the exact features of it, and when they plan to buy it, planning their weekend trip to someplace expensive to do one of the above expensive hobbies, being obnoxious and/or profane for no particular reason
Parents: As said, Asian business owners
College preferences: USC, or “lol, why would i need to go to college when my dad will just give me money and eventually his business.”
The Gangster
There may not be any actually gangsters like in the movies. I doubt that the Bloods or MS-13 think that an Arcadia branch would be profitable. But there are the fake Asian (or non-Asian) gangsters that act in a gangster-y way, getting in frequent trouble with administration, doing clearly illegal things. You may kind of pity them for a while, but that’s only until they do some other stupid thing.
Appearence: Excessive jewlery, chains, sagging jeans, backwards cap
Classes: Doesn’t matter, they usually don’t go anyway
Activties: School probably tries to put them in counseling, fails.
Hobbies: Smoking, smoking marijuana
Seen: Smoking in bathroom, talking with other pseudo-gangsters
Parents: Hm…I’m not really sure. Probably divorced, struggling to make living, can’t communicate with child. Kinda sad.
College preferences: Juvenile Correctional Facility?
The Athlete
These are the most athletic people in AHS, which probably isn’t saying much. They’re usually in a sport such as football, volleyball, or water polo. Not trying to be racist, but tend to be white, though do not have to be. Usually stay within this clique very closely. Being very outgoing, they can talk to most people, but they have a group of friends that they know well, so much that they know everyone’s parents, and may date within this group. Well, that’s one sub-category. The other category is also outgoing and stays within their friends, but instead of being friendly toward people outside the group, they just act like jerks, and their outgoingness just emphasizes it. These are the people with the cheerleader girlfriends.
Appearence: Flat baseball cap, sagging jeans, though not like the gangsters, Converse shoes, stand out because of their size (compared to the tiny Asian kids)
Classes: Basic requirement classes, probably fail, just trying to pass enough to get the required credits
Activities: Sports
Hobbies: Social outings, gossiping, texting, hunting
Seen: Making out in hallway with girlfriend, laughing at inside jokes with friends
Parents: Soccer mom type, participate in PTA and stuff, interested in school, but not pushy and overreactive
College preferences: USC, community college
The Cool Person
The name comes not necessarily because they are considered cool, but because they try to act like it. Some of them are very popular, and all of them are pretty good socially, but they all may not necessarily be as cool as they would like. Being social, they like to talk, especially to girls. They also can talk enthusiastically with people like them, though this may decrease if they start dating. They aren’t the smartest, but they’re not at the bottom academically either.
Appearance: Spiky gelled hair, fashionable clothes
Classes: Mostly honors-level classes, maybe one or two AP’s
Activities: Highly involved in clubs, maybe in ASBish stuff
Hobbies: Texting, facebooking, other social networking, maybe go to mall/movies
Seen: Flirting, talking a lot in class, grooming in bathroom mirror
Parents: Asian parents, still strict about academics but don’t push to join as many AP’s as possible
College Preferences: Lower-level UC’s
The Loser
Constrasted with the nerd, who fails socially because he is so focused on academics, the loser is a loser because he is not really competent in anything. Fails academically, not great socially, no real talent in anything. Pretty socially aloof, though may have one or two close friends. They not only are usually incompetent-they have no desire to do much. Some may talk slightly more to their loser friends, but only about something really loserish.
Appearence: Not much personal hygiene, maybe some jewelery like a necklace, very quiet, maybe a shirt from some old rock band
Classes: Probably in bottom classes, the below regular ones, or failing in regular classes
Activities: None
Hobbies: None for the quiet ones, something like Yu-Gi-Oh cards for the more outgoing ones
Seen: Staring blankly into space, mumbling a few words to fellow losers, playing/discussing geeky, childish games
Parents: Not really sure, maybe divorced
College preferences: McDonald’s, Burger King, professional Yu-Gi-Oh/Mortal Kombat player
The FOB
Yeah, these are the new immigrants to America, and they come to Arcadia because it is very Asian and quite wealthy, just like their parents. They are still very ingrained in their old culture, and though the level of assimilation varies with each individual, they typically prefer to stay in a super-Asian shell. In an already overly-Asian city.
Appearence: Fobby hairstyle, clothes that are considered highly fashionable. In Asia.
Classes: ELD, higher level math, random pointless electives
Activities: Maybe one of those Asian clubs
Hobbies: Playing online games, playing other video games, listening to Asian music, watching Asian media
Seen: Conversing with fellow FOB’s in (Insert Asian language here)
Parents: High class in Asia, having to work harder in America, may not always have time to supervise children, who may become out of control and act like a FOB fake Asian gangster
College preferences: Would prefer not to go to college, like what would have happened in Asia, parents want Harvard, USC, or UCLA because they’re the only American schools they’ve heard of, settle on the realistic option of community college
The Annoying Person
Maybe I’m just calling them that because I am personally annoyed by them. They usually are pretty popular, for some reason. They like to talk a lot, and are usually pretty friendly, but I tend to detect a slight arrogance for some reason, and this incites mild annoyance. They may have a higher voice, or it might just sound higher because of the way in which they say their words. They try to be funny, and the people they hang around, usually nerds or the basketball player type, laugh, but I don’t find their humor humorous at all.
Appearence: Interesting way of talking, maybe glasses,
Classes: Usually a balanced mix of honors and AP’s
Activities: Highly involved in clubs, spend time promoting these organizations in class, which adds to my annoyance
Hobbies: Facebooking, a lot.
Seen: Talking very loudly, and in my opinion, obnoxiously, frequently with girls, for some reason.
Parents: Generic Asian parent, not quite as strict as some, but still quite Asian
College preferences: UC’s, maybe an out-of-state
The Lunatic
There are crazy people at the school, just like there are in every society. And they’re not just crazy like some of the people I’ve discussed so far-they actually seem like they might have some mental problems. Nothing handicapping, as they still attend normal classes, they just act weird. Really weird.
Appearance: Look very nerdy, but also weird, obviously. Have glasses oftentimes
Classes: Regular or bottom level classes, usually fail and frustrate teacher
Activities: None, really
Hobbies: Usually have one very specific hobby that they obsess about
Seen: Talking to self, talking to others that are not listening, engaging in activity that they find fun, but others see as wierd
Parents: I don’t even know what their parents feel.
College preferences: Maybe have some obsessive desire to get into a specific college, or maybe just don’t care
The Normal Person
They may or may not be the overwhelming minority here. There are very few people that are truly normal, and even less in a place such as AHS. However, there are some that have no qualities that make them stand out, and would not fit into any of the above categories.
Appearance: The whole point is that they appear totally inconspicuous
Classes: Regular classes, do around average
Activities: None
Hobbies: Nothing, really.
Seen: Yes, they’re seen, but they’re not noticed
Parents: Don’t push child, but don’t ignore them either
College preference: Whatever they can get into.
Well, that’s all I can think of now. Once again, this has been a totally unscientific study, and has just been my stupid, random wandering thoughts. Wait, let’s go with one more…
The Girl
I don’t know what to say, as always when dealing with girls.
Appearance: Hormone-stimulating
Classes: Not in the ones you wish they were in
Activities: Too many
Hobbies: ???, inducing insanity in males
Seen: They are not seen, but stared at.
Parents: Most of us don’t need to worry about that yet
College Preferences: Wherever you want to go. Except you will get rejected and they will get a scholarship.
Ok, that was kinda stupid and sexist, lol. Well, it accurately reflects my situation in dealing with girls. Blah. Maybe Hanning can enlighten us on the opposite gender with a blog post of his own.
Hm, these posts are consuming a lot of time…