Many admin, teachers, and students enable envy and competitiveness within the Regis Jesuit Community. Attending a private college prep school is a flex but not in the way that it should be. Regis Jesuit enables elitism through its competitive tendencies. I believe that the high standards proposed by these thoughts are harmful and create arrogance and envy amongst the student body.

I am a junior at Regis Jesuit, and I’ve seen firsthand how Regis sets standards high and stress levels higher. Yes, it is nice having the ability to take AP classes and achieve GPAs higher than 3.8, but the underlying issues caused by these expectations are harmful. When you put your own school on such a high pedestal, it causes an arrogant attitude that enables a gross source of pride. Academic qualification and ability-related segregation are detrimental and contribute to an elitist society amongst students. Regis enables elitist competition that doesn’t align with its commitment to cura personalis. Regis draws from a wide-array of middle schools but does not do enough to “onboard” students to new expectations, I fell victim to this issue.

AP / GPA

The academic hierarchy enabled by Regis’ AP and GPA systems is a big part of the problem. Students at Regis Jesuit are essentially competing for educational leverage and attempting to reach an academic standard that is unattainable. Private schools like Regis Jesuit enable a mentality that “a certain cutthroat approach to life is rewarded.” Leaving students  unintentional unfulfilled. Many students compare themselves to others, including me. My classmate Katerin Urias explains this, “I often feel the need to constantly live up to the level of the majority of the student body,” she feels as though Regis does not emphasize individuality enough, and I totally agree.

ONLY ONE WAY TO BE EXCELLENT

An Article by Jack Schneider explains that there are “not enough losers” at private/independent schools. This is so true and harmful considering the value our student body puts on achieving leverage on the social hierarchy at Regis Jesuit. Inequality is a problem that surrounds many of the issues at RJ. This is influenced by the egotistical mentality enabled by Regis Jesuit. Many students at Regis believe that taking 5 AP’s and earning academic awards is the only way to be successful. Students at RJ neglect that one can excel through a creative outlet, or a hobby they picked up outside of school. Life isn’t all about grades, and Regis Jesuit should tell their students that more often.

Private Schools Have Become Truly Obscene

SELF IMAGE

The high standards set by the student body are influenced by the fact that they attend an “elite” high school, and things are expected from them. When students are basically doing everything in their ability to get good grades or increase their GPA, are they learning? Are they genuinely taking in the college-prep part of attending Regis Jesuit?

Evidence shows that students that attend private schools are likely to be more successful in college than those who attended public schools. Some say that private schools give their students a head start to successful lives, but are the stress, pressure, and competitiveness worth the outcome. Evidence shows that most parents are sending their children to private chocolates because of the expected outcome. Why should a status-based outcome justify enrollment into the most crucial years of a teen’s life?

SOLUTION

While it may seem like I am asking Regis to convert to a public school, that is far from my perception of a possible solution. I simply ask that Regis Jesuit begins to understand their influence, that they recognize and disable elitist behavior, and celebrate students who are excellent outside of grades and academic excellence. I hope that Regis Jesuit learns to listen to their student body as I did, and encourage individual beliefs. Regis Jesuit needs to be a place where personal growth is a priority. Regis needs to know it’s place, the narcissism is rubbing off on it’s students.