Jordan, High School Student, CA

"I think school is supposed to teach you how to be able to function on your own after you graduate, I don't know if PALY does a great job of that but I think that is what school, in general, is supposed to do."

Jordan is a student at Palo Alto High School (Paly). She was interviewed by a peer and one of our student Catalysts--Benjamin--for the RE-ENVISIONED collective visioning project at Paly in Spring 2017. Check out other #SchoolSpotlight interviews for Paly by following #PeopleofPaly.

What are your hopes for life? What would make a good successful life?

I guess if I get into UNC and then if I become a plastic surgeon, and then have five pugs, that's success.

What does it take to be happy? What would make you happy? Just all of those things?

I’m okay now, I guess I'm happy. When I graduate, that will make me happy. If I get to the point where I don't have to work and I can just do whatever I want, that would also make me happy.

Ideally, what role do you think schooling, high school or specifically PALY, should play in achieving that ideal good life?

Well, I guess I try to get good grades so I can go to college and become a surgeon and all that, but I guess you can still have a good life if you don't do any of that. A lot of my friends don't like school, so they are probably not going to college and I feel like they will probably be fine in life. I feel like it depends on the person.

Do you think school, or more specifically PALY,  plays the role it should for you?

No, I mean - it's school...that's the only thing it is supposed to be, but I feel like I'm not really that invested in it. Like extracurriculars and all that - I don't really do those. I guess I know more than I did when I was a Freshman, so technically yes, I guess so.

Have you ever talked to your friends about what they think a good life is and what their views on it are?

I think they just want to have fun. They don't really think about the future that much, but they seem to be having a lot of fun now, so I think that their life is really good now.

Tell me about your favorite teacher? Why are they your favorite?

Oh, Mrs. McDermin, she is my favorite teacher because I've only had her twice sophomore year and she is really nice and cool and I still talk to her now even though I haven't had her for two years. I don't know, I like her because she is nice, she is chill.

Is there anything else related to your school experience you would like to share?  

Well, school is kinda boring, I'd be fine if I didn't have to go, but because I care about grades and I work at it I guess that is why I like to plan and why I care about all that kind of stuff.

What do think the purpose of schooling is for individuals and society broadly?

I think school is supposed to teach you how to be able to function on your own after you graduate, I don't know if PALY does a great job of that but I think that is what school, in general, is supposed to do.