Intrusive Thoughts #1 - American School System

 This is a new series of articles I will be writing called "Intrusive Thoughts". The concept is simple. As someone who struggles with intrusive thoughts, I will just be writing blogs about the intrusive thoughts I have to hopefully get them somewhat out of my head. I am not an expert on any of these topics, so do not take my thoughts too seriously or personally, as they are often driven my emotion and not logic if they are being included in this series. The first article is this one, and it is about the American school system, a common grievance of mine. 

I have a number of issues with the American school system, but my main grievance right now is how the school system combines with social media and "fame" or success right now. Fame brings financial success, those two things go together. While money is not equal to happiness by any means, and at times can even deter it, some amount of money is needed in this world and this society to survive and then, thrive. We also have this system in place here in the U.S. by which we are supposed to get schooling from the age of about five years old to about 22 years old. At one point it was more widely accepted to not go to college, but unfortunately that has become looked down upon now rather than admiring those who are able to attend a higher education. 

Where I have run into frustration recently is where the American school system and social media have intersected. Especially with the introduction of TikTok over the last few years, "blowing up" on social media has become increasingly sought after by younger generations. I would be lying if I said I have not wished that fate upon myself from time to time. The reason for this is that once someone goes viral, it can lead to sponsorships, deals, and opportunities that previously had been reserved for only the most successful athletes, actors, singers, and other celebrities. 

By itself that does not frustrate me much. I know I am not the most interesting person in the world, and that personality trait does not lend itself to instant fame. Nor would I want the instant fame and recognition that comes with internet success. Where I run into trouble with intrusive thoughts are when I see videos of people who have achieved success and will never have to work hard another day in their life, yet they do not know the simplest things. 

Why does that matter to me? Because, I spent 20+ years sitting in school to learn all these facts, figures, theories, words, and rules because I was told that someday it would help me function in society and I would need them to be successful. Right now, in our society, that is a lie. It is WAY better to be really, really, good at one thing rather than being able to do well overall in school. Now, I find myself in a position where I spent so much of my young life trying to diversify my skills and be relatively good at a number of things, and I find that I am having trouble figuring out how I myself am going to achieve financial success, or even stability, because I do not have a "niche" that separates me from the countless others that were plowed through the machine that is the American school system. 

Alright, that's it for now. Will this be a recurring subject? Hopefully not, but maybe. It does feel good to get that chain of thoughts out of my head and onto a virtual page at least, but that does not mean it is completely gone forever. I can promise, however, that the next chapter of "Intrusive Thoughts" will NOT be about the American school system. I will make sure that there is at least one article about something else before I revisit this topic.