TJ alumni FB thread on what graduates actually do

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting, because I am confident that DC has learned more than would have been covered in base school, in every class, including non-STEM courses, and had a very good time, including by participating in sports -- successfully, oddly enough -- that would not have been an option at base school. Does not seem to have had some of the social pressures that another DC not at TJ has had at other schools, which seem more likely to lead to depression and anxiety that working hard does, in our one family's experience.

When do you think the burnout & depression shows up? In high school? Or later?

+1

Absolutely there are many happy kids who can handle and thrive at TJ. I'm sure I appeared that way as well, and may have believed I was fine. It bubbled under the surface while at TJ for many people I knew, well before TJ Vents documented these things. Cutting, drugs, and risky behavior were occurring there in the 90s. Supportive families and friends got people through high school, butoften things further unraveled in college. TJ kids can be good at hiding things, so it often seemed very sudden and unexpected. The pressure to do well is all they know and it can be very hard to face when things don't go well. Adolescence is when mental health issues show up, and it's often hard to draw the line between run of the mill stress and something more. Many TJ kids are seeking additional help from mental health professionals. Comparing myself to friends and relatives who went to base schools instead of TJ, they are very happy and successful - many doctors, engineers, teachers, lawyers, etc. Not sure if it was worth it in the end. Though it seemed like I was learning alot at the time, it was hard to retain the info because there was so much input. I totally struggled in a few college classes that should have been easy after TJ, even though I had As at TJ. These are just anecdotes, and I'm sure there are a number of grads who would still say they loved their time at TJ.

I think TJ is working hard to create a healthier environment and do all they can to prevent self-harm. I think they want to work on cheating and homework levels. Obviously there are many parents and kids who want to go there. I can tell you that I would not want my kids there for many reasons, including the lack of diversity.

Huh. Another 90s grad here and this wasn't my experience. I had the usual teenage angst but I don't regret TJ at all. Most of the people I knew there were smart and interesting and have excelled in their (STEM and non-STEM) careers. And I felt very well-prepared for college (UVA)--I did not struggle there academically at all. I'm not saying TJ is right for everyone and I'm sure it's changed in the last 20 years, but this paints a very bleak picture that doesn't match my memories.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish certain parents could see an amazing, nearly 800-comment long FB thread of the non-STEM things that TJ alums are doing with their lives. So many people have rejected money and stereotypical “success” in favor of careers that make them happy. It’s pretty eye-opening.

Interesting take. I'm sure if base school kids had the same jobs, they'd be viewed as underachievers. Those could be the jobs that the TJ students got. Where is the proof they "rejected money" to take these jobs?

[Anonymous]

Link, please?

[Anonymous]

No link. It’s on a Facebook group open to TJ Community only.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish certain parents could see an amazing, nearly 800-comment long FB thread of the non-STEM things that TJ alums are doing with their lives. So many people have rejected money and stereotypical “success” in favor of careers that make them happy. It’s pretty eye-opening.

Interesting take. I'm sure if base school kids had the same jobs, they'd be viewed as underachievers. Those could be the jobs that the TJ students got. Where is the proof they "rejected money" to take these jobs?

+ a billion
This

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish certain parents could see an amazing, nearly 800-comment long FB thread of the non-STEM things that TJ alums are doing with their lives. So many people have rejected money and stereotypical “success” in favor of careers that make them happy. It’s pretty eye-opening.

Interesting take. I'm sure if base school kids had the same jobs, they'd be viewed as underachievers. Those could be the jobs that the TJ students got. Where is the proof they "rejected money" to take these jobs?

+ a billion
This

I think PP was talking about the clergy members, public interest lawyers, music teachers, etc on the thread. Those are interesting, fulfilling careers. Base school grads with those jobs would not be considered underachievers either.

[Anonymous]

Is it me, or is this whole thread an attempt at promoting TJ in light of the fact that the TJ loons got majorly called out (or whipped, if you will) in other threads?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you don’t think law is a cool profession, I suggest you might want to try living in a society that doesn’t have laws or ways for citizens to enforce them. Some of the lawyers are civil rights lawyers. Some are IP lawyers. Some are JAG lawyers. There are many ways to apply intelligence. One theme is how the education provided prepared the alums to write well.

The poster said being a lawyer wasn’t a fun job...never used the words cool profession. Reading comprehension, much? For the record, the poster is absolutely right! It’s not fun!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish certain parents could see an amazing, nearly 800-comment long FB thread of the non-STEM things that TJ alums are doing with their lives. So many people have rejected money and stereotypical “success” in favor of careers that make them happy. It’s pretty eye-opening.

Why do you care what others think of your beloved TJ so much? Why not just revel in the fact that your kid goes and keep quiet? We really need a new thread on this?

[Anonymous]

Having seen the fb post, all I can say is how much I wish there was a magnet for arts and humanities in fcps.

[Anonymous]

I am a lawyer and think it's fun. Not every day, not all the time, but generally fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Having seen the fb post, all I can say is how much I wish there was a magnet for arts and humanities in fcps.

I think that our culture doesn't promote that because it's not profitable to be an artists or a writer anymore.

This being said: Robinson and Lake Braddock have fantastis A and H programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to TJ in the 90s. Given the incredible potential of the students there, I am not particularly impressed with the paths that people have taken, as I know the struggles some have faced along the way. TJ does lead to success in many cases but leads to burnout, depression and disappointment in many cases too. I know I feel i wasted precious years of my life there, yet people would consider me a TJ success story for what I have done with my career. Given the changes in the school culture and the flaws in the admissions system, I would not expect the rates of success to continue. Sure there will be doctors, engineers, etc but they would likely have follower the same path from their base high school.

It would be interesting to compare with what other top magnets and top private school grads are doing.

+1

I know people who declined acceptance over the past couple of years for this very reason. Essentially, people are human beings, not machines. But most TJ parents don't see it that way. The parents who declined also knew that their child would have a better chance getting into their choice college without TJ, since TJ is so "top heavy".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to TJ in the 90s. Given the incredible potential of the students there, I am not particularly impressed with the paths that people have taken, as I know the struggles some have faced along the way. TJ does lead to success in many cases but leads to burnout, depression and disappointment in many cases too. I know I feel i wasted precious years of my life there, yet people would consider me a TJ success story for what I have done with my career. Given the changes in the school culture and the flaws in the admissions system, I would not expect the rates of success to continue. Sure there will be doctors, engineers, etc but they would likely have follower the same path from their base high school.

It would be interesting to compare with what other top magnets and top private school grads are doing.

+1

I know people who declined acceptance over the past couple of years for this very reason. Essentially, people are human beings, not machines. But most TJ parents don't see it that way. The parents who declined also knew that their child would have a better chance getting into their choice college without TJ, since TJ is so "top heavy".

Students at TJ are not machines, they are human beings just like good atheletes are not machines.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish certain parents could see an amazing, nearly 800-comment long FB thread of the non-STEM things that TJ alums are doing with their lives. So many people have rejected money and stereotypical “success” in favor of careers that make them happy. It’s pretty eye-opening.

Why do you care what others think of your beloved TJ so much? Why not just revel in the fact that your kid goes and keep quiet? We really need a new thread on this?

OP here. I’m actually an alum, which is why I belong to the TJ alumni FB group and saw the discussion. My kids are far too young for TJ and I’m not remotely invested in whether they apply in ten years or not. I started this thread because I was inspired by the choices people have made and the creative ways they are using their God-given talents. The FB thread happened to focus on non-STEM careers, which I thought was an interesting twist. I also hoped that some local alumni might chime in and share the stories they shared on FB so parents could see the range of experiences.