Navigating the halls of Great Neck South in the morning, I often notice that rather than chatting with their friends, many students favor staring down at their iPads, whether to cram for APs or skip through a YouTube video. These observations struck me as odd—it was the complete opposite of what I thought high school would be. Curious, I began to ponder the divide between collectivism and individualism and how each ideology manifests in high school culture.
It may appear easy to categorize school as collectivist: students congregate in classrooms for, ideally, the common purpose of education. Interdependence through group work and projects remains a substantial facet of most curriculums. Yet, as expected in a competitive district, students trend towards an egocentric mindset, especially as college is increasingly coveted and success is tied to its status.
This is only exacerbated as America as a whole champions individualism, a philosophy that prioritizes self over community. From its vitriolic birth, America’s desire for independence runs deep: freedom from Great Britain, power from the federal government, access to natural rights—we as a society and as individuals duly want to be autonomous. Capitalism, tied to our system of democratic governance by nature, promotes individual contribution. It is not an inherent evil; we are often self-driven, perhaps to a fault, which usually yields fruitful results.
In school, for example, no matter how often we tell ourselves that we are our sole competitor, we compete through test scores. While it may be a motivator—however misguided—this competition is ultimately unhealthy. When my teachers post class results, I immediately calculate where I fall on the curve, measuring myself up against my peers in hopes of academic self-affirmation. In doing so, however, I subconsciously wanted others to perform worse. Because, well, at least I wasn’t that bad, right?
Another example can be found in high school clubs. Deep into the rabbit hole of college admissions, I scolded myself for failing to join more clubs earlier, for I longed for those coveted “leadership positions” that may have arisen if I were a long-dedicated member. Did I truly desire to lead? Yes. Did I also want to slap another “President” label onto my resume for the sake of it? Most definitely. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with seeking out such roles. This exudes diligence and initiative, which are admirable qualities. But it sometimes reaches a point where positions are prioritized over camaraderie, however unintentional. Dedication may waver when, perhaps, analyzing the cost-benefit of attending a “free” club meeting rather than cramming for tomorrow’s exam in the solace of home. Hence, too often, students receive a role in a club only to rarely or never show up again.
We need balance in our mindset. Individualism and collectivism do not necessarily have to be enemies, nor, as complex as we are, do each always fall into an absolute binary. While a self-motivator, the former is not sustainable in the long run, the latter creates an environment fit for friendship and collaboration. Understanding the nuance between the two and adopting each ideology when appropriate fosters a cooperative yet ambitious medium for our burgeoning adolescence.
