Students: Worry about YOUR education, not your friends, they have parents for that.

I had one situation where I was signing students up for their fall classes and two of those students were best friends, who wanted to sign up for the same classes, so that they could kick it together, you know.  Well, one of the students did not test well, so this student could only take two classes, while the best friend had the option of taking a variety of classes.  Now, in my mind, I'm thinking that the friend who could take whatever, would do just that, but in an effort to make the other friend happy, this student limited the amount classes they would take in order to be with the best friend.  As an educator, I was completely shocked and I did everything possible to try and get this student to reconsider, but nothing worked and they still have the same schedules.

I wanted the student to understand that sometimes you can't help another person get on your level, but that doesn't mean you have to get on their level, let them worry about their academics and you worry about yours. I asked the student this question, "If you were accepted into Yale and your friend was accepted to the local community college, would you stay behind to make that friend feel better about their academic situation or would you go on and handle your business?"  The student's eyes grew wide and I could tell they understood where I was coming from. 

Students, just because your friend can't take AP Chemistry with you doesn't mean that you shouldn't take it. It doesn't make you less of a friend because you're on another academic level than your friend is and if they truly are your friend, they wouldn't care that you're in honors and they're not.