Types of people in high school

Written May 2023.

Quotes from people in my high school circle—Keep in mind they are generalizations!

STEM nerds

Cognitive science nerd:

Debate kid: “Screw the moon, I’m going to Mars”. Cog sci kid: “Screw Mars, I’m going to Andromeda.”

They’re chronically online, have thousands of links, papers and textbooks that they haven’t yet read, have probably looked at all of your links online and follow weird people on twitter.

Very quiet most of the time. They have a peaceful expression on their face.

Physics/chemistry nerd:

My mom says I wouldn't be able to do it, which is concerning since half her research was with mathematical modeling. My prof said it would take a grad student a super long. I have less than a month. Imma do it anyways.

Anything is a slippery slope. Once you get one, hold on to dear life.

Physics is like math on steroids!!!

(Hyperactive nerd was burning chocolate in a corner.) Physics/chemistry nerd: “Why did you waste chocolate? This could’ve been someone’s depression candy.”

(Quiet nerd): why is the table wet? Physics/chemistry nerd: “Probably just someone’s tears, don’t worry about it.”

Picks up little details, good at strategy, socially intelligent, highly judgemental. Can casually defeat 99.34% of people on divergent association test

Pragmatic math nerd:

I hate societal influences regarding math. I get it, it can be frustrating. But it builds so many things around us. Our very lifestyle depends on inventions created through math. I would hope people give it a little more praise, for a lack of better words.

Pragmatic math nerd, responding to physics/chemistry nerd interests: “What's the utility in studying philosophy? I mean it's good, because you want to be a physicist.” They view philosophers with contempt.

Cog sci nerd: “Hey, why not go hang out with Well-rounded Procrastinator and Physics nerd?” Pragmatic math nerd: “I don't see utility in doing that.” Meanwhile, pragmatic math nerd: “I'm learning a new language, because why not!”

Lots of math puns! Impulsive; Extremely intelligent and stupid in other ways.

Biology person:

They are only into life sciences.

Engineer:

Good at building stuff, bad at using frameworks in their thinking—Will tell you lots of details.

Relies on pros and cons lists

Skeptical, afraid of legal consequences, very concerned about cost, talks a lot about cost.

Follows social norms most of the time, uses slangs, stays updated with current news. Cog sci nerd shakes their head every time when Engineer codes simulations to approximate values rather than reason by first principles.

Chatty people:

Well-rounded procrastinator:

This man installs Minecraft Java edition without Java! Do you even know anything about computers?

Well-rounded procrastinator: That table, is my hobby table. Motivational speaker: No, that is a dumpster fire!

Society expects us to stick with one thing. Giving up is underrated.

They speak with a warm tone and smile a lot!

The empath:

Love is the most beautiful thing in the universe. (Singing Billie Eilish in the bathroom for the talent show)

Is involved with social justice, super optimistic. Everyone thinks they’re an extrovert but they feel more introverted.

Motivational speaker:

I was thinking about "how it's more common with guys to put on a persona of themselves rather than relating to one another about their struggles". It kind of makes sense though, I feel like the main reason is the fear of being judged.

Can’t stop talking about romantic relationships

Debate kid:

So we beat on, boats against the current, saying ayy lmao! That’s the heart of philosophy. Everything else is commentary.

I wish you a test. Because everyone else in the class will fail.

Kudos to your mom. No kudos to you!

Hyperactive nerd:

(ChatGPT has just generated Hyperactive nerd’s entire webscraping code in 10 seconds)

Make it with better time complexity! Oh yeah, now you’re stuck, bitch! I win! I win, bitch! L! get diffed! Ratiooooooo! I win! Oh fuck. Aw shit, it’s literally coding what I coded but it eh g it s—dude, I stayed up for hours in the hackathon, coding it like this! … singing I am so lonely, I’m Mr. Lonely, I have nobody…

Watching Your Lie in April at 4 am is such a vibe!

Supreme confidence and charisma.

Entrepreneurial workaholic:

I use Todait to track my working time in categories. I use it obsessively. I won't work without logging it

Constantly checking Slack in class and coding before class. They believe a day spent only doing schoolwork is a day wasted.

They work 80 hours a week, are over-caffeinated and wear headphones.

Literature person:

When I daydream, I'll realize I've been talking for like 5 minutes without realizing though, like sleep talking without sleeping, I don't know if that counts

Question: do you think good people are born or are made? Answer: Good people are required.

I still experience time, but time doesn't experience me.

Has numerous spotify playlists and spends a lot of time naming them.

Who you’d expect to see

Quiet person:

Gets good grades, has socially acceptable interests, doesn’t talk much.

Art kid unwillingly going into STEM/business:

Art kid, with a math question: Is this correct? Cog sci nerd: no. Art kid: you’re so mean! wait, Cog sci nerd! Aw, he ignores meeee!

Art kid, In response to the teacher pushing back the test date: Mr. teacher, from the first day I entered your physics class, I never stopped feeling like a valued member of the classroom. From your interactive lessons, quirky humour, and intelligent discussions to your compassion for your class, you've made physics one of the true joys in my life. I have nothing more I can say except thank you. With Love, Art kid.

STEM kids are like rocks, they don’t talk!

Enjoys shipping people, always makes great holiday gifts, great sense of fashion.

Leadership student:

Gathering all of his friends, Leadership student: Okay, there are decisions that need to be made. That’s why we’re here. Quiet nerd: but listen, part 1 doesn’t make sense, okay? The numbers didn’t add up— Leadership student, raising voice: I know! You made it clear through discord, email, texting and now vocal!!!! We’re going through inconsistencies right now!

I read about finance, psychology, economics; I learn things through non-fiction. I don’t like reading fiction.

God complex:

The internet is a gold mine. Parents who hire private tutors are paying IQ taxes. Such people are hopeless.

Social science:

Sorry I've been rambling for the last hour. I'll stop when people ask me to say stop.

History, politics and psychology enthusiast.

Popular comedian:

Leadership student joins HTN, and meets his new wife on Slack. Check the bedroom channel! Maybe join a VC in #kitchen?

Hey well-rounded procrastinator, wrong class! Preschool's that way!