The Problem with Our Sense of Worth

Worth, as I see it, is not the merciless pursuit of a great resumee, collection of perfect standardized test scores, club officerships, etc., although these things are indeed beneficial to an individual and provide great training for later in life. However, what worries me is that people at my school are increasingly preoccupied with these things - not only for college entrance - but to measure their own personal worth and superiority.

A student can have enough friends to sway an officership vote, or engage in enough extracurricular activities so that they put only minimal dedication into all of them. One can study the formulaic problems and questions types for the SAT. Although participating in these activities does require a considerable amount of effort - a major part of "worth" - they require minimal creativity or innovation, things that will be greatly needed in the future.

Students are being trained to be proud of these things - which they should, to an extent. But few take time to write a story, to create, to invent, or to venture into other standards of achievement besides those which will grant them college entrance.

When oil is depleted, are we going to take a standardized test to figure out a new source? Are we really going to understand people of different cultures by traveling to different places, but not bothering to immerse ourselves in their society? Can we truly lead if we don't have the people's best interests at heart? Our high school lives are teaching us to look only at that which our institutions - the schools and colleges - desire to see from us.