"Middle School" aired October 28, 2011 on This American Life.
This entire episode was dedicated to the middle school experience. The first act was interviews with some students and educators about their experience with middle school. The second act was about a dance. It was delightfully awkward with students discussing asking people out or dancing the "slow dance". This American Life recorded teachers at the dance, capturing the moment when the teacher pulled a boy out of the dance for suggestive dancing. It was a hilarious moment that reminded me of my own middle school dance, where we all clumped on a circle, and were surrounded by chaperones, but none of us were actually dancing. The next act was an excerpt from The Boy Kings of Texas by Domingo Martinez. This section was about the manifestation of beautiful, suburban,white Americans that his sisters created call The Mimis. Each sister called themself Mimi, and became an inseparable duo, recouncing their culture and creating this air of . Everyone bought into their game, and were completely facinated. However, as the family faced fincial troubles, and sent the children to work in the fields of California. This illustrious dream of the Mimis disintegrated, as did the imiagination and creativity of childood. The next act is about a boy named Leo. Leo recently changed schools, and is struggling to find his place. In his interviews it chronciles his decline into a depression where he can't seem to find any positives about his new life. The final act talks about how peer pressure was applied postively. It wasn;t exactly peer pressure, but rather the dissection of it. TA boy at a middle school was teased for his hygiene. He was from an extremely desolate situation, where his water and electricty would be turned off frequently, and he had to take care of his aging arguement. After
I loved this piece because it was absoultely true to the middle school experience. Not a lot is said about middle school in movies or other popular sources. The most I ever see or hear is about bullying. This piece accurately caputured this period. I can't say my experience was like the Mimis, or Leo, or the charter school boy. My middle school years went relatively smoothly. I think back to them fondly. However, boiled down, all of these stories touch on our desire to belong. All of these students talk about trying to understand their place and relationships. The dance is a great example of student's budding sexuality. They have crushes and feelings that they can now act on. Yet, the awakardness shows how little they know about romantic relationships. And the guarding chaperones give off the impression that something about what they do is wrong.
Aside from these physical changes, the perception of the world changes. I see this is Leo's story the most. Leo explains problem by saying that "The older you get, the more you judge people on their looks, their background, how they act, like what cool is for kids. Because in kindergarten, you could just walk up to someone and say, "Do you want to be my friend?" And that would be it. But it's harder. I just think people are more wary before they open up. Like in first grade, if I met someone, I wouldn't really care who they were. I would just care if they were nice or not."
I can't agree more. Other people's perception of me suddenly became very important, and is a guiding factor of my life. And I think that's the most heartbreaking part of middle school. The innocence of childhood is gone, and studnets start preparing themselves for the rigors of adult life.
