Social Change using Pathos

I grew up, sheltered and protected, for most of my life.  So naturally, when I entered high school, I was a nervous wreck.  I circled the school at least 5 times, trying to find my Biology class and found myself eating lunch in the bathroom multiple times.  In addition, I would come home to piles of textbooks and notebooks, waiting to be filled with homework due the next day.  Also, I had to juggle my intense dance classes and helping around the house as well.  I didn't know what to do!  As a result, in my freshman year, I became stressed out and anxious about everything in my life including school, dance, family, and my social life.  This was not helpful at all because not only did my grades go down, but my mental health was jeopardized, too.   Not every high school is like Rye Dell High (for my Grease lovers).  Now, as a junior, I have begun to realize how beneficial it would be to have a special class offered to all students that encourages ways to cope with school and social interaction with peers.  This class would offer useful study habits, techniques to control anxiety and stress, and help students gain more confidence around other students.  If I was a freshman, I would have loved to be able to take a class like this.  I believe it would have given me skills that would help me later on in my high school career.  

I had a friend who I used to go to middle school with.  Smart kid, athletic, good looking, basic definition of popular.  However, he had underlying issues that seemed to never be resolved.  When he entered high school, he was met with the harsh reality of high school life.  He wasn't prepared or guided by anyone on the basics of High School 101.  As a result, he started beating himself up over low grades and sacrificed his social life by having little confidence.  He started having serious mental issues and became immensely depressed because of the lack of support.  If he had had this class, he may have been more aware of the expectations of high school and may have been able to reach out to someone who was an expert at high school life for help. 

                Think about the future of our generation.  If we were to not support our young adults through a crucial, developing time in their life, how do we expect them to create an advanced, modern world in 20 years?  Let's give our kids hope for the future, make them see a light by making them feel comfortable on home ground.