High School

In the essays High School's Secret Life (by Emily White) and Masks (Lucy Grealy) the authors share their views on high school. White's view of high school is as an adult observer watching the students, whereas Grealy speaks about her own high school experiences. Both give the illusion that the lunchroom is a big exciting part of high school, they have similar stories of boys sitting in the lunchroom trying to impress their peers by making fun of others imperfections. According to both the writers' having imperfections leads to cruelty and isolation from others. The writers also seemed to think if you are treated cruelly in high school, those scars will carry on into adulthood.

I feel blessed after reading these essays.My high school problems that seemed so significant at the time now seem so small and childish. My parents insisted that I attend private school. Lucky for me I only had school on one day a week. I had a group of friends that I felt comfortable with and the weird thing is the popular kids were super-scary nice. They were best friends with everyone. The lunch time wasn’t full of competition and belittling such as the authors experienced but of laughter and fun. The only regrets that follow me from those four years is Though my classmates were always kind to me I let our differences build a barrier in my mind that was never torn down.


In the essays High School's Secret Life (by Emily White) and Masks (Lucy Grealy) the authors share their views on high school. White's view of high school is as an adult observer watching the students, whereas Grealy speaks about her own high school experiences. Both give the illusion that the lunchroom is a big exciting part of high school, they have similar stories of boys sitting in the lunchroom trying to impress their peers by making fun of others imperfections. According to the writers' having imperfections leads to cruelty and isolation from others.

In grade school if you asked me what my favorite parts of school were I would answer easily recess, lunch and P.E. If you asked that question after I entered high school I wouldn't have an answer for you. Entering high school was a new exciting experience, all my friends were jealous because I only had to attend one day a week. What my friends didn't realize was that my high school was full of well of kids whose parents were deeply involved in their childrens lives'. These things started the isolation that only increased through my four years of high school. Though my classmates were always kind to me I let our differences build a barrier in my mind that was never torn down. I never had the misfortune of experiencing the cruelty of teenage boys (other than my brother) nor of anyone ostracizing me for my looks.