I remember there was a fellow student back in high school who was class clowning a bit too much on one particular day. He grabbed the attention of the class for a few moments and then the teacher deemed the impromptu production over. But then the teacher said something that has stuck with me all these years. He said, “wait till you get out of high school and into the real world you’ll see!” He was implying that his behavior or need for attention would not be tolerated out in the work force or whatever venue life was to bring his way.
Several years later after graduating college, serving the Marine Corps, and getting a “real job,” I came to realize one very important fact. The “real world” was almost exactly like high school. In high school you had cliques, groups, and subgroups. In the real world you have cliques, groups, and subgroups. In high school you have favorites, rich kids, poor kids, and those in between. In the real world you have the same. Such is the case in any city or job with more than a few employees. In high school there are those who are naturally brilliant, some who work hard and some who have difficulty functioning, just like the real world.
That particular student realized there was a benefit to gaining people’s attention. Whether it be on the football field, in the lunchroom or during math class attention can have great benefits. The trick is learning when, where, and how to utilize the gifts and skillset you have been given. There will always be those with more advantages than you. Do not hate other people or the rules of life, learn them. You may not like the hand you started with, but you can start improving on the hand you’ve been given immediately. Once you know and accept the rules of the “real world” then you can determine which ones you must follow, which ones you can bend, which ones you can exploit, and which ones you can break.
I don’t know if that student peaked in high school or if he was able to take his confidence and his ability into a successful life. There are lots of brilliant people working for the class clown today who learned how to gain attention, move people’s emotions, and connect with a group of people.
Many people wish they could go back to high school and do it again. You don’t have to; you are still living in it.