I was the only student from my grade to go and see Thomas Freedman, despite a widespread desire to see it because of both marching band and copious amounts of homework. These activities are of course participated in because if extra-curriculars and grades are not seen on college applications then students cannot get into prestigious schools. In effect, the curiosity and self-motivation of the student body is stifled as they work hard to get their check boxes checked and appear on paper to be the world-changing students that prestigious schools want to enlist.
This of course ends up not being the case, as by the time students have been accepted into these schools they have been torn down to mere shells of their true capabilities as learners, and are instead worker ants bent on getting the grade and earning money after college. For this reason our education system is flawed- true curiosity and learning are not rewarded and instead hard work and a loss of self determines who can come out on top and who must settle for a lesser school.
Students should be encouraged to study on their own, to explore their world, and to exhibit their curiosity, but cannot because they need the grades. Hence, only one senior went to see Thomas Freedman despite widespread interest.
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