Can we talk?

Geeks

  It's unfortunate that young people have to suffer at the hands or words of other young people, since said young people just don't know any better. Most will learn as they get older, some will not. The big picture usually tells us that the way we treated or mistreated or avoided someone in school was wrong.

    The kids who were geeks in school usually turn out to be successful, happy, and better paid. Of course, we don't know much when we are kids, but we don't know everything when we're grown either. The geeks who received encouragement and support at home turned out okay. The geeks who were not nourished emotionally, have problems just like everybody else.

    Tale Bill Gates as an example. Multi-millionaire, nose stuck in a book or in front of the computer all the time. He was probably a little socially awkward. But his family was very smart and encouraged him. Or one of the chief nerds at my school (he was in the band, in the chemistry club, and on the debate team) got his PhD, married a pretty girl (also in the band), is well respected in his field, and makes beau coups money. He still wears heavy glasses.

    And what about the most popular girl in school? She's divorced early, has a terrible reputation, never went to college, and drinks too much. Another popular girl married and got a good job, but she still made major money problems for herself and her family. One of the most popular guys, super cool, has had a string of failed businesses, and failed marriages.

    Now not all popular kids turned out badly. A few became doctors, but more of the nerdy kind became doctors. I'm just saying kids need to realize that popularity or coolness is so temporary. Even we adults want to be "with it", or "hip", or "chic", or "fashionable", or whatever you call it, at least to some degree, or maybe at least the way we dress. But mature people know that looks, clothing, and "coolness" don't make up for basic values and strength of character. Popularity, the school variety, fades away leaving no substance behind.

    Being nice to people, using good manners with everyone, caring about everyone, even the nerds is better than hanging with the "mean girls" or the jocks, or whoever is cool. The truly popular person should be the one who gets along with everyone and practices fairness in daily life. Besides, that nerd you shun today, may the banker who turns down you mortgage application in a few years or advices you on your retirement investments.