An Outlet

Everyday, I watch my friends around me sink to new lows to get that grade. To get that extra boost that they know will help them succeed. When you go to elementary school, you are taught basic morals. No cheating, no stealing, no copying etc. But 8th grade is when it gets complicated. What if a friend cheats, because that is what will keep their parents from verbally abusing them that night? What if a friend does something as horrible as hacking into a teacher's school computer account, just so they can get into the college that the rest of the family has gotten into? You are taught what you're supposed to feel, how you're supposed to react. But it's almost never how you actually do. It is a cutthroat world out there and boy do we know it. Everyday our teachers, parents, friends, and other adults drill into us how important it is to get an A in that class because a B doesn't cut it anymore. I'm taking two high school classes right now and I want to get into William and Mary. The average GPA there is 4.0. It is so scary to think that if I don't get an A in Spanish I in 8th grade, I can't go to the college I want to. For so many of my friends, it's so much worse. Their parents have these hugely unrealistic expectations of them, and it KILLS my friends when they can't provide for it like they want to. I don't really expect anyone to read this but it would be awesome if they did. I just need an outlet right now and it's nice to know that someone out there might be reading it.