High School

A thought on pecking order:

Driving to town today, I passed a group of high school students out on an expedition of some sort. They were strung out in a rough line for a couple of city blocks. I thought the place in line they were walking was interesting.

First: The teacher and the group of kids that always hangs out with an instructor, no matter what class it is. They are a mixture of needy kids, nerds and butt-kissers.

Then a single girl. Walking along in a determined manner, she probably has a number of close friends but not in this class. She doesn't worry too much about not being in a group, most likely. She's OK on her own.

Then the gaggle of Kewt Gurllzzz. In trendy styles, made up faces and teeny hairstyles, they were animatedly swinging their hair in time with their butts. Exaggerated gesturing, excited skipping motions signal the painfully self-conscious "look-at-me thing going on.

The the girl-magnet guys, jocks most likely. Close on the heels of the Kewl Gurllzzz talking amongst themselves but mostly conscious of the group in front of them. They followed the preceeding group the closest of any of the observed groups.

Then another group of guys. Some distance behind the girl magnets, they were probably social second-stringers and the tough guys.

Then one lone girl, some distance behind the guys. Very tall, walking somewhat slower than the rest. Her head was down, looking at the pavement, hair curtaining her face. She may have been the last out of choice but, as such things go, she is most likely the class outcast for one reason or another. Her path through school will be painful and she will likely disappear from view after graduation.

Just my observations...