Let’s face it: Naperville North’s AP students are sort of ridiculous. Amidst excessive Infinite Campus-checking and mountains upon mountains of college emails, we have a pretty distinctive place in our school culture. But not all AP students are totally alike, which is why I present to you nine types of students you’ll encounter during your time in AP Lit.
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1. The ones who are obsessed with college.
Most of us are totally obsessed with college to some degree, but some people take it way further than others. Ever have a conversation with someone in AP Lit about Stevens’ social ineptitude that somehow transitions into a discussion of who applied to which Ivy League university? We’ve all been this person or loathed this person. Or both. But college will come soon enough, and all will be forgotten.
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2. The ones with too many opinions about our books.
Socratic seminars are a very interesting experience when these people are in your class. Maybe they think that Ethan Frome’s cat represents literally anything and everything in Ethan and Zeena’s fraught relationship. Maybe they think Beloved isn’t in fact the ghost of Sethe’s baby but rather Sethe’s mom or perhaps a figment of everyone’s imagination. Regardless of how you feel about these ideas of our books, I’m sure we all find them very entertaining.
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3. The ones who are always late.
The worst offenders are in 1st and 5th period, where people are coming in having just woken up 15 minutes ago or are rushing to class after 4th hour lunch. We all know those few people who walk into Trowbridge’s class with one of those machine-printed passes in their hand every day. Love that for you. Please don’t get yourself in detention.
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4. The token white guy.
No explanation required.
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5. The ones who came from Hitzeman’s class and don’t really know what blogs are all about.
These are the sad 1/3 of AP Lit students who are perpetually confused about things we’re doing. They haven’t read the same short stories, and they might have only just realized how quickly blogs can tank your grade in this class. Maybe they don’t have all the same inside jokes as the rest of us. But AP students learn fast, and you guys will be totally fine.
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6. The ones who think they’re woke now that we’ve read Beloved., and 7. The ones who still aren’t woke even now that we’ve read Beloved.
These two people go hand in hand. No, your internalized racism has not been solved just because you’ve powered through a novel about a former slave, but also, no, you don’t get to continue perpetuating stereotypes! This isn’t a U.S. history class, but you should still be aware of the nuances in this world. Be a good person.
Screenshot of my Google Docs.
8. The ones who ask Mrs. Trowbridge for help with everything.
College essays, every single group presentation, emotional support–sometimes, we really do need Trow’s advice on what the heck to do, and she’s happy to do it. I personally must have sent twelve colleges’ worth of essays for her to read. Thank your teachers, everyone. Trowbridge does so much for us.
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9. The actual normal, chill person.
Most of us are this person most of the time! Believe it or not, AP students are also human beings. The vast majority of us go through this class, learn some stuff, and come out of it a better person. Very normal. Very chill. We don’t all need to stand out all the time!
I hope this post has given you a laugh or has at least allowed you to self-reflect a little. Don’t see yourself in any of these descriptions? Let me know if you have any suggestions for types of people that I’ve forgotten.
I s’pose number three’s me. I’m not gonna shy away from expressing my vie just because someone’s uncomfortable with it. That being said, I find the very concept of wokeness unnecessary. Coming to know about inequalities in the world is nice & all, but I believe that humans aren’t all racists & need not think about the injustices in the world all the time.
* my views
Number three isn’t you though?? If anything, you’re always early to class.
2, sorry.