How to survive high school | Camille Cooley | TEDxWhitneyHigh

Summary

In this motivational speech, a teenager shares her personal experiences and insights on surviving high school. She humorously reflects on how her expectations of high school were influenced by media like *High School Musical* but explains how real life is more challenging. She outlines three key steps to thrive: jump into new opportunities, get genuinely excited about your passions, and be yourself rather than conforming to societal norms. Through these steps, she emphasizes the importance of self-discovery, embracing mistakes, and defining oneself despite the pressures of high school life.

Takeaways

• 🎤 The speaker begins by setting up expectations about high school based on media portrayals like *High School Musical*, but acknowledges that reality differs.
• 🤯 High school is portrayed as a crucial time that shapes who you become in the future, filled with stress and expectations.
• 📚 The speaker suggests that rather than stressing about academic choices, students should focus on three major principles: Jump In, Get Crazy Excited, and Be Yourself.
• 🚀 'Jump In' means actively exploring interests and trying new things, even if they seem daunting or against others' advice.
• 🔥 'Get Crazy Excited' encourages students to embrace their passions and show enthusiasm, no matter how niche or unconventional the interests may be.
• 💪 'Be Yourself' emphasizes the importance of authenticity over conforming to societal norms or 'coolness' standards.
• 🎬 The speaker references TV shows like *90210* to illustrate how high school issues and experiences have evolved over the years, while some remain the same.
• 🙌 Embracing these three steps led the speaker to meaningful experiences, such as traveling, volunteering, and representing organizations.
• 🔎 The speaker reflects on how society often views teenagers negatively, but argues that adolescence is a time for dreaming, taking risks, and self-discovery.
• 💡 The overarching message is to not let fear dictate your actions or prevent you from pursuing what you love, as each person defines themselves and their future.

Q & A

What was the speaker's initial perception of high school?

The speaker initially thought high school would be like *High School Musical*, filled with random dance routines, academic success, and a high school romance like Gabriella and Troy from the movie.

How did the speaker's experience in high school differ from their expectations?

The speaker's high school experience was more challenging and stressful than expected. They didn't have a romantic relationship like they imagined, and they realized high school was about studying hard, dealing with stress, and preparing for college.

What are the three big ideas the speaker proposes for surviving high school?

The speaker suggests three ideas for surviving high school: 1) Jump in and try new things, 2) Get crazy excited about things that interest you, 3) Don't be cool, be yourself.

Why does the speaker emphasize 'jumping in' as their first step?

The speaker encourages 'jumping in' because trying new things allows students to discover their passions. It helps them explore different opportunities and figure out what they truly want to do, rather than being restricted by others' expectations.

What does the speaker mean by 'get crazy excited'?

The speaker encourages people to embrace their enthusiasm for things they love, whether it's Slovakian literature, nonprofit work, or biomedical engineering. By being unapologetically passionate, they believe it will lead to personal growth and community involvement.

Why does the speaker advise against trying to be 'cool' in high school?

The speaker advises against trying to be 'cool' because it limits self-expression. They believe it’s more important to be true to oneself rather than conforming to societal norms, as being authentic leads to greater self-discovery.

What personal experiences does the speaker share to support their points?

The speaker shares personal experiences like becoming a published poet, volunteering in hospitals, and traveling the world—all of which they accomplished by following their three steps of jumping in, being excited, and being themselves.

How does the speaker feel about the portrayal of high school in media like *90210*?

The speaker feels that shows like *90210* are predictable, cheesy, and not entirely realistic. However, they appreciate the show as a time capsule that addresses issues like diversity, sexuality, and academic pressures, which are relevant to today's teenagers.

What does the speaker say about societal expectations for teenagers today?

The speaker mentions that teenagers today are expected to be passionate, optimistic, and hardworking. However, they acknowledge that it's often overwhelming to meet these expectations, and sometimes it's okay to struggle with them.

What does the speaker believe is the most important takeaway from their high school experience?

The speaker believes that high school does not define them, but instead, they define themselves. They see high school as just a stepping stone in their journey of self-discovery and growth.

Outlines

00:00

🎤 High School Expectations vs Reality

The speaker reflects on her childhood expectations of high school, imagining it would be similar to the movie 'High School Musical' with spontaneous dancing and romance. However, the reality turned out differently as she faced the stress and challenges of high school, including hard work and striving to get into a good college. She explains that despite not fulfilling her early fantasies, the four years of high school were crucial in shaping her future. The speaker introduces the theme of her talk—three key steps to surviving high school—while acknowledging that her personal experiences may not make her an expert.

05:01

📺 The Influence of Teen Shows and Real-Life High School

Using the TV show '90210' as a comparison, the speaker highlights how high school life, both in reality and on screen, has evolved over time. The issues faced by the characters in '90210'—such as dealing with sexuality, grades, college applications, and diversity—mirror those of modern teenagers. She notes that despite societal expectations to be passionate and successful in every aspect, teenagers often struggle with the pressure. The speaker emphasizes the importance of adapting and finding one's own way through these challenges.

💡 Jump In: The First Step to Surviving High School

The speaker introduces the first of her three survival strategies for high school: 'Jump in.' She encourages teens to explore their interests, try new things, and take action without hesitation. By experimenting with different activities, whether it's writing a book, learning a new language, or traveling, students can discover their true passions. The speaker shares a personal anecdote about her parents advising her to focus solely on academics, but she chose to follow her own path, leading to fulfilling experiences like becoming a published poet and traveling the world.

🎉 Get Crazy Excited: The Second Step

In the second step, the speaker urges her audience to embrace their enthusiasm and excitement about things they love, no matter how unconventional or niche their interests might be. She stresses that genuine excitement fuels motivation and encourages learning. Whether it's about an obscure topic like Slovakian literature or a career path in biomedical engineering, getting unashamedly enthusiastic helps teens find their community and personal growth. The speaker emphasizes the importance of diving into one's passions and not being afraid to show excitement.

😎 Don't Be Cool, Be Yourself: The Third Step

The third step is about embracing individuality. The speaker explains that trying to conform to societal standards of 'cool' often limits self-expression. She uses examples like fashion choices and popular trends to illustrate how many teenagers restrict themselves to fit in. However, the speaker argues that the most important thing is to be true to oneself, even if it means going against what others deem cool. She reflects on how embracing her uniqueness allowed her to achieve things she never thought possible, reinforcing the idea that being authentic leads to personal fulfillment.

🌟 High School and Self-Definition

In this concluding section, the speaker reflects on her high school journey and the broader teenage experience. She discusses how societal perceptions often view teenagers as troublemakers, but she believes that adolescence is a time for dreaming, making mistakes, and learning from them. By embracing risks and ignoring fears, teens can define their own futures. The speaker reiterates her three steps—jumping in, getting excited, and being true to oneself—as the foundation for personal growth and success, closing with an empowering message that individuals define themselves, not high school or society.

Keywords

💡High School

High school in the video represents a critical life phase where students experience personal growth and face challenges that shape their future. The speaker reflects on their own expectations and realities of high school, contrasting it with media portrayals like 'High School Musical.' High school is depicted as a transformative time where individuals learn about themselves and prepare for adulthood.

💡Jump in

The phrase 'jump in' symbolizes the importance of actively engaging in new experiences and opportunities. The speaker encourages students to try everything, whether it's learning a new language or pursuing creative passions. This concept highlights how taking risks and exploring various interests leads to self-discovery and personal growth.

💡Get crazy excited

This phrase urges students to passionately pursue the things they love, whether it's a niche subject like Slovakian literature or a professional field like biomedical engineering. The speaker emphasizes that enthusiasm and unreserved excitement can drive deeper engagement with one's interests and foster a sense of community and belonging.

💡Be yourself

'Be yourself' is a key message in the video, emphasizing the value of authenticity over conforming to social norms or expectations. The speaker advises against trying to fit into the 'cool' crowd, explaining that embracing individuality, whether through clothing choices or personal interests, leads to greater fulfillment and confidence.

💡Expectations vs. Reality

This concept highlights the speaker's realization that high school, and later college, is not as easy or glamorous as portrayed in movies like 'High School Musical.' It contrasts the idealized vision of teenage life with the actual challenges and pressures faced, such as academic stress and self-discovery.

💡Passions

Passions are central to the speaker’s philosophy on surviving high school. The speaker believes that finding and pursuing one's interests, whether through hobbies, academics, or extracurricular activities, is crucial for personal fulfillment and success. The advice to 'jump in' and 'get crazy excited' ties back to nurturing these passions.

💡Self-discovery

Self-discovery is an underlying theme of the video, where high school is framed as a period for learning about oneself. Through trial and error, trying new things, and embracing personal interests, students can uncover who they truly are and what they want to do in life. This is linked to the speaker's three steps: jumping in, getting excited, and being authentic.

💡Fear

Fear is portrayed as a limiting factor that prevents students from fully exploring their potential. The speaker advises against letting fear dictate decisions, such as not trying new things or worrying about what others think. Overcoming fear is essential to embracing the steps of jumping in, getting excited, and being oneself.

💡Teenagers as Dreamers

The speaker asserts that teenagers are meant to be dreamers, idealists, and risk-takers. This concept challenges the negative perceptions often associated with teens and emphasizes their unique capacity to envision big possibilities and take bold actions without fear of failure. This idealism is what allows for growth and self-discovery.

💡Mistakes

The idea of making mistakes is framed positively in the video, as a natural and necessary part of growing up. The speaker encourages teenagers to view mistakes as learning opportunities rather than failures, stressing that they are an essential part of the journey toward self-discovery and success.

Highlights

The speaker initially thought high school would be like High School Musical, with random dance routines and easy success.

High school was much harder than expected, filled with stress and competition to get into good colleges.

The speaker introduces three key ideas for surviving high school: Jump in, Get excited, and Be yourself.

Jump in: The speaker encourages trying everything, exploring passions, and discovering new interests without fear of failure.

Personal story: The speaker didn't listen to their parents' advice to focus solely on studying and became a published poet and volunteer.

Get crazy excited: The speaker emphasizes the importance of being genuinely enthusiastic about what you love, even if others find it strange.

Being passionate and excited about your interests leads to a deeper understanding of yourself and creates opportunities to join communities that share your passions.

Don't be cool: The speaker advises against conforming to societal expectations of 'coolness' and instead suggests embracing one's true self.

Personal reflection: The speaker realizes that being true to themselves was the best decision and led to personal growth and achievement.

The speaker acknowledges that teenagers face immense pressure to be perfect and achieve everything, but encourages resilience and exploration instead.

High school is a stepping stone, not a defining point. The speaker emphasizes that personal identity is something you define yourself, not by high school.

The speaker criticizes the negative portrayal of teenagers in statistics and media, highlighting that teenagers are capable of great things.

Teenagers are dreamers and idealists, and this fearlessness allows them to try new things without being limited by fear of failure.

Key message: Fear should not stop anyone from pursuing what they want, as mistakes and failures are part of growth.

The speech ends with the core takeaways: Jump in, Get excited, and Be yourself, encouraging personal empowerment.

Transcripts

[Applause]

hello everyone so I'm here today to talk

about how to survive high school when I

was little I thought that high school

was going to be like High School Musical

I thought we were going to dance into

random routines and I was going to study

hard and get into Y at Gabriella and

have a boyfriend like to that Keon that

didn't happen because my boyfriend is

not Z Eon but instead I went into

college and I realized that it was a lot

harder than I thought it was going to be

it was challenging and stressful and

full of people just like me who thought

if I studied hard enough I can get into

a good college I could do amazing things

with my four years now it doesn't matter

who you are at some point you would have

experienced high school and those four

years are game changers they determine

who you're going to become in the future

and so for me instead of stressing out

about what classes should I take and

what should I do in those four years I

came up with three big Ideas three

incredibly easy but often difficult

steps in surviving high school now I

just want to say a quick disclaimer I'm

only a teenage girl I've been to watch

Netflix way too much I'm not crazy

popular I've never been to a party where

the popo show up and I like reading

romance novels about love triangles or

any other geometric shape I also have a

LoveHate relationship with high school

now therefore I don't know everything I

turn 18 on Saturday and I'm not an adult

yet so doesn't mean that you should

listen to me and even when I'm an adult

you might not want to listen to me

either but these three steps have

allowed me to strive in high school have

allowed me to do a lot of things that

I'm pretty proud

of so with that here's a picture of a

show and if you don't know what 9 or2

and0 is 9 or2 and0 is a show about a

group of young hip skinny Rich teenagers

who go to West Beverly Hills High School

and on this show they have to deal with

a lot of problems now besides some the

obvious the the picture on the right

depicts the newer version of the show

and despite it being predictable and

cheesy and not so much set in reality

what I love about it is time capsule now

what you can't tell is a show on the

right deals with a lot of issues that we

as teenagers today have to deal with the

characters in the show deal with their

sexuality they deal with getting good

grades getting into college and dealing

with

diversity the high school on the right

is not the high school on the left see

being a teenager has changed over the

years and that means that we have to

adapt it it means that no matter where

you go whether it's West Beverly Hills

High School citos Whitney High School's

rough we're expected to have passions

and be optimistic and be hard working

work and everything under the sun and a

lot of the times we can't do that I

can't do that so instead of having an

existential crisis every other day I

decided to come up with three big Ideas

three ways for me to get through high

school and get into a college that I

really wanted to and trying to discover

who I was as a person my first step is

jump in it doesn't matter what you want

to do if you want to write a book start

writing a book if you want to learn

French probably if you want to travel

around the world start raising money

trying everything under the sun allows

you to discover your passions and allows

you to realize what you want to do my

parents used to tell me that I was

spreading myself too thin that I was

trying too much and really I should

study for college and go to college and

go to college and go to med school and

go to med school and become a doctor and

all this stuff that I didn't really want

to do right now I wanted to explore and

I wanted to try new things and that

meant that I jumped in and if I had

listened to them I wouldn't be a

published poet I wouldn't have traveled

the world and world and volunteer

hospitals on the other side of it the

next step is get crazy excited about

things and I don't mean go home and

start a tumbler about Sherlock or te

wolf however awesome that is that's not

what I'm saying I'm saying that if you

love Slovakian literature or nonprofits

or biomed engineering you are allowed to

get unironically and enthusiastic ially

excited about it you're allowed to jump

in your seat and scream into pillows and

share the miracle of human consciousness

because when you get crazy excited about

stuff you're driven to do more you're

driven to be a part of a community

that's bigger than yourself as a whole

and you learn more about

yourself my last step is don't be cool

be

yourself like I said before I'm not

super popular at school but I realized

that when you're popular

and this is a thing all high schoolers

sort of learn that means that you have

to limit

yourself you don't wear cargo pants cuz

they're not cool you don't spike your

hair with gel in a '90s fashion because

that's not cool but you know if you want

to do that if that's you do it that is

cool for you and I know embracing the

overs said cliche of being yourself is

really redundant that was the best thing

I had ever done for myself because when

you step out of society's stream of

consciousness

and start swimming in your own you

realize that there's so much more out

there it goes back to my first step just

jump into things it doesn't matter what

it is try everything new and you learn

more about yourself and it goes back to

my second Point get really crazy excited

about things the person on the other

side of the street may look at you weird

if you get excited over a new episode of

Sherlock or a new publication in the

medical journal but that's you embrace

it so this is me and the past four years

I've done a lot of things that I'm proud

of because of the three steps that I've

embraced I've traveled to DC and I've

represented organizations I've traveled

around the world and volunteered at

hospitals and I've done a lot of things

that I never thought I would do and

along the way I met some really amazing

people now what I've learned is that

high school does not define me I Define

myself High School is merely a jumping

off point for what you want to become

and col is just a step along the

way but the bigger question is who are

we when I was researching for this

speech I tried to look up statistics and

a lot of the statistics had one thing in

common about teenagers they were all

really really

negative did you know that 80% of

smokers start before their 18 did you

know that eight young people die a day

in alcohol related car

accidence I've realized that in a way

adults often find teenagers as natural

as

troublemakers and although this is our

age where we're allowed to make

mistakes teenagers are supposed to be

dreamers we're supposed to be idealists

and believe that we're Invincible

because we

are we're not afraid to try new things

we're not afraid to do anything that's

uncool or cool we're allowed to do

mistakes that would make our parents mad

and everything that we want to

do so in the end and the most that I

could say is don't let fear hind your

guard don't let fear stop you from doing

the things that you want to do because

in the end we Define

ourselves so jump in get crazy excited

about

stuff and don't be cool be

yourself thank you

[Applause]