After Math (On Studying and Graduating from a Science High School)

I’m proud that I’m a nerd, but I’m not just that – because people are never as simple as what we label them to be, and there’s no point in trying to force it.

One of the most common things I hear after I tell people that I went to a science high school is "Wow, that must mean you're smart." Something that is implicitly said is "Wow, that must mean you're a nerd." I won't lie – there is definitely some truth to that statement; however, just because someone's from a science high school doesn't automatically mean that that person is a nerd. For the most part, we're regular high schoolers. Nonetheless, I’ll admit there are definitely some differences. Hopefully, I can show just how different or how similar we are, while clarifying some common misconceptions.

Similarity: The non-existence of the perfect student

Some people think that if you study in a science high school, you have no problems with math, the science subjects are a piece of cake, and the humanities subjects are easier than the science subjects. On top of that, it’s also assumed that you always have your homework finished long before the deadline, and that your test results are at least decent. Let me be the one to tell you that those things apply to a very, very small minority, if anyone at all.

Like any regular high schooler, we struggle, we cram, and we complain about school. It’s not uncommon for people to do their homework (that was given three days before the deadline) the day it’s supposed to be turned in. If they can cram it the period before it’s due, that’s probably when they’re gonna do it.

Similarity: The social groups

Even in a science high school, there are people that are considered “the nerds." However, along with the nerds, you have the jocks, the cool kids, the band geeks (of both the classical and rock variations), the overacheivers, etc.— pretty much, the (stereo)typical high school setting. Of course, there are also those people who fit into more than one category, like the band geek who’s the best in the batch at Computer Science, or the nerd who likes to toss around a frisbee just as much as the varsity players do.

We also have our fair share of good looking people, which I never thought I had to defend before. It was only until I found out that someone was surprised about some of my batch mates appearing on a certain twitter account (hint: it’s synonymous to poultry seen) that I realized the nerd stereotype was being reinforced on us, even in terms of looks.

Difference: Curriculum

Now we head on to the differences, the biggest of which is the curriculum. When I talk about the curriculum in this part, I’m going to be talking about the pre K-12 one.

The DepEd curriculum followed by most schools had one subject each for Science, Math, Filipino, English and Social Science in its core curriculum per year, with a few adjustments and minor subjects added. In my school, we mostly followed the same curriculum for the humanities subjects. The only notable difference was that we studied Noli Me Tangere in first year, and El Filibusterismo in second.

For science high schools however, it’s pretty much the norm to have more than one science subject per year after first year. Some years, there would also be two maths. For my high school, I had Biology, Chemistry, and Physics every year from second to fourth, and two separate math subjects in second year (Algebra and Geometry). Because of the extra units of both math and science, a science high schooler would have taken enough math and science units for their first semester at college, which leads me to the next difference...

Difference: College Applications

Even before the application forms are given out, there’s already pressure to think about which college and course you’re going to take. That isn’t exactly a difference, though – every high schooler feels the pressure of choosing their future. But for science high schools, there’s a little additional pressure, and that’s thinking “I HAVE to pass this college because people will think I’m dumb if I don’t,” combined with “I HAVE to take a science course, or else my entire high school education will be a waste.”

To explain, science high schools usually require students to sign a contract upon admission. Part of that contract was that we enter an approved science course in college. That doesn’t seem like such a heavy promise to make at 12 or 13, right? I mean, who’d enter a science high school and not contemplate entering a science course for college? To be honest, most of us were heading towards there anyway. For some people though, there’ll always be that “What if?”

“What if I was able to take music in college?”
“What if I had gotten accepted into AB Creative Writing?”
“What if I put BS Economics as my first choice?”
“What if I had gone into BS Business Management?”

Those are only the what ifs of some of my batchmates – and I’m sure others before and after us have had similar ones.

One article alone won’t be enough to explain exactly how similar or different science high schoolers might be from those who went to different schools, and how they might feel about that. They have different pressures, while still sharing the essential ones with everyone else – and trust me, that’s enough to warrant its own set of frustrations, too.

But no matter what misgivings or frustrations or what ifs I have about entering my high school, I know that I won’t ever regret choosing it, even with the stereotype. I’m proud that I’m a nerd, but I’m not just that – because people are never as simple as what we label them to be, and there’s no point in trying to force it.

Wouldn’t you agree?

Article by Rio
Art by Yanna
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Rio is (trying to be) an engineer-in-training, an athlete and a singer, with her love for science, sports, and music in that order. She's also (trying to be) a writer, with her trusty laptop/phone, sour cream flavored chips and/or strawberry ice cream. (Whether or not she succeeds is another story altogether).

Yanna is an aspiring wizard who enjoys doodling, longboarding, reading and writing. She is also a huge fan of anything Studio Ghibli, although she has yet to watch much of Hayao Miyazaki's films because most of her dvds are pirated. Although she is initially quiet and maybe even serious, those who get to know her will see just how optimistic and weird she really is.