What makes a kid popular in middle school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It really amazes me how so many people feel that tons of exteacurriculars are some magic thing that leads a kid to not be a jerk or do anything stupid. It's not like these busy kids are immune or anything, they could have just as many problems

The amount of drugs that the male sports high school teams do are insane. Especially lacrosse, football, and basketball.

Not true at our large FCPS public school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It really amazes me how so many people feel that tons of exteacurriculars are some magic thing that leads a kid to not be a jerk or do anything stupid. It's not like these busy kids are immune or anything, they could have just as many problems

It’s not - these kids aren’t any kinder usually.
They do have less time to make trouble, and have something to bond over/talk about together that isn’t gossip (but it’s not like they are immune from gossiping)

It’s also that kids in a lot of EC often do it bc they are thinking of college apps. Someone in zero EC probably lacks that kind of ambition, so tend to be less future minded. And more likely to eff around in general.

+1 Being busy with EC isn't kryptonite against bad behavior, but it does lessen the risk. DD is on a very intensive, competitive sports team. Some of the girls drink, some don't. Some are into boys, some aren't. But they're all very focused on this sport and most of them have very good grades and take AP or IB classes. All of the graduates go to college. It's not impossible for one of them to decide to do drugs or engage in other high-risk behavior, but it's a little less likely than for someone with no EC who's just drifting through HS with no goals for their future.

[Anonymous]

A 12 year old on social media is de facto bad parenting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A 12 year old on social media is de facto bad parenting.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It really amazes me how so many people feel that tons of exteacurriculars are some magic thing that leads a kid to not be a jerk or do anything stupid. It's not like these busy kids are immune or anything, they could have just as many problems

The thread is not about avoiding being a jerk or doing something stupid. It's about being popular.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It really amazes me how so many people feel that tons of exteacurriculars are some magic thing that leads a kid to not be a jerk or do anything stupid. It's not like these busy kids are immune or anything, they could have just as many problems

The thread is not about avoiding being a jerk or doing something stupid. It's about being popular.

To-may-to, to-mah-to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d say confidence is what makes them popular (or faking confidence well).

This is true for adults.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It really amazes me how so many people feel that tons of exteacurriculars are some magic thing that leads a kid to not be a jerk or do anything stupid. It's not like these busy kids are immune or anything, they could have just as many problems

The thread is not about avoiding being a jerk or doing something stupid. It's about being popular.

I was responding to a comment about busy kids supposedly not experimenting with things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It really amazes me how so many people feel that tons of exteacurriculars are some magic thing that leads a kid to not be a jerk or do anything stupid. It's not like these busy kids are immune or anything, they could have just as many problems

The amount of drugs that the male sports high school teams do are insane. Especially lacrosse, football, and basketball.

Not true at our large FCPS public school.

Oh really lol. You are with them all 24/7

I love when parents think they actually know.