The Difference Between High School and College

The age old question that every high schooler wants to know. And the answer that college students realized they cared way too much about. Obviously, high school and college are very important times developmentally. But there are two pieces of development that I want to focus on: social and emotional. So, what is the difference between high school and college?

First, social development.I believe this is the epicenter of development. With a strong social mind, the rest of a person will truly be positively affected. High school is like 1984 by George Orwell. Somebody is constantly watching. And somebody is constantly judging. But why?

My generation is raised on a very strong social hierarchy in technology, something I call the "social media hierarchy," or iHierarchy. This means that we have reached a point where social status is largely dependent on retweets, likes, followers, and streaks. Not having social media is the equivalent to Dalits, the scum that sits below even those with barely feet on the ground. This iHierarchy, just like any social hierarchy, creates conflict within the levels over power. Any type of social hierarchy, especially one where there can be advancement and downfall, creates a "king of the hill" concept. One is constantly competing to gain social nobility or maintain it. In high school, this nobility is more important than anything. But you must earn your place and defend it. Staying relevant in today's age is about as easy as being friends with someone who likes crunchy peanut butter. The difference is that in high school, students have two things that college students don't: time and energy.This is why you are more likely to see college students migrate back to Facebook. The only time they feel motivated to post anything is when it's something update-worthy that their parents and extended family are dying to see. Now obviously most students have Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, so on. But they aren't spending as much time posting, and they aren't spending as much time liking and following and retweeting and snapping. Because they just don't have the time or energy. In addition, there is almost no social competition on Facebook since it died out on Generation Z, leaving it open to millennials, Generation X, and baby boomers to argue over fake news and watch cooking videos. So Gen Z, along with millennials, migrated to Twitter and Instagram. And Gen Z to Snapchat. For example, ask the current middle and high schoolers if they use Facebook. If they cringe, you have your answer. In college, there isn't that sense of competition. People either "don't have time" or "don't care enough" to participate in this iHierarchy. As where high school students are almost forced, like it or not, by their peers and environment, to participate.

Next is the emotional.Or the mental-emotional I suppose. Obviously the ages of 14-18 are very confusing and challenging for people. The ages of 18-22 are very challenging too, but for completely different reasons. According to Erik Erikson, from the age of 13 until 21 we are taking place in this discovery of our self-identity. We are trying to figure who we were, are, and want to be. Our minds are very easily manipulated by the environment, whether we think so or not. And by "environment," I don't just mean school. Every single thing around you all the time is your environment. Friends, family, that can of Diet Coke, your computer, the words you read and the words you write. All of that is impacting you on a micro- or macroscopic level as far as you go identifying yourself.In high school, there are millions of things that our mind see's and learns every single day. In college, there are even more things that out mind see's and learns every single day. But it's not how much we see, but what we see. At this point, it can be very easy to give into peer pressure. It seems like a easy "next step" for us to find our sense of self. And this is something that high school and college are definitely not lacking. In college, I actually have to make an effort not to drink and smoke. Because roommates, classmates, friends, strangers, even professors will talk about how fun it is. Here is where the difference between the mental-emotional aspects of high school and college come in. In high school, we have to make an attempt to pursue drugs and alcohol. In college, we have to make an attempt to avoid them. And in the confusing role that we are in at this stage, it is so much easier to accept the incoming pressure than to reject, or even avoid it. But, there is another piece of Erikson's theory at hand here. During college, towards the end of undergraduate studies, we transition. We go from attempting to identify ourselves, to attempting to identify another.This tends to be the age where people begin their long-term relationships, get married, and start a family.

Age 21 to 39. People become "ready" to have a lifelong partner. This throws one hell of a monkey wrench into college, especially if one wants to continue after their undergraduate studies. At most, people can be in college for about 11 years. That means a lot of busy time, and a LOT of money. This doesn't easily allow for a marriage, self-sustaining home, and family. Now, it should be known that some people really don't struggle with this phase, because they prefer to stay single their whole lives. And in a modern society with a divorce rate over 50%, that's being seen more and more. But many people feel societally pressured to get married and settle down at some point. Because it's just what people do, apparently. For example, name one movie in the last 20 years in which the protagonist was not married, or fell in love at some point during the movie.

Exactly.

So when it really boils down, what is the difference between high school and college? Well, it really comes down to one thing: motivation. That's right, I just went through theories and philosophies just to tell you that one group is more motivated than another. But I promise you, it's not college students. Don't get me wrong - college students are highly motivated people. But, they have a lot more that is weighing down on them. It's expensive, it's a new world, it's living independently, it's getting yourself out there, it's studying, it's resisting a lot of urges. And on top of all of that, you still don't know who you are and who you want to be. And on top of that, you are being constantly pressured by your environment to find "the one." College students are carrying their whole world on their shoulders all of the sudden. And while we're prepared and motivated to push through the hard, the hard is ready too. And the hard is not capable of giving up, but we are. High school students tend to have a bit less motivation. It's mandated by law to go, parents have a sharp eye on you, it's not easy fitting in, maybe you even have to wear the same dumb uniform everyday. There is a single goal that is taught in high school, and that goal is college.Other than that, high school might as well be the dryer at the end of a car wash. The motivation of high school students is college, something that they've been taught is the most important thing in the world for the first 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18 years of life. Of course you're gonna want to go there! They are trained that just like going to high school after middle school, college is simply the next step after high school. No if's, and's, or but's. It is not optional, and you will not debate it. And high school students accept that willingly! They will gladly take freedom from the prison of their parents clutches to study something they love. They can't wait to give up this iHierarchy and get out of this stupid self-identity phase. They don't see college as a new chapter, they see it as a new book. The past is ripped, burn, and thrown in the ocean. As if it never existed to begin with. As if you were born and the next day you started college. Nothing between those two events are worth your time and energy. College matters. Nothing else.

So that is the difference. High school students are less motivated, but have less on their shoulders. College students are more motivated, but have significantly more on their shoulders. It may seem like they would cancel out, but no. There's a lot more on the shoulders of a college student than they were ready and equipped for.

Too much, for some.