The Theme Of I Go To A Competitive High School In Suburbia By Ethan Brown

In his article, “I Go to a Competitive High School in Suburbia,” Virginia student Ethan Brown outlines the sources of his stress of finding a balance between success and a social life. His life is full of other stressors like the expectations of teachers and parents to excel academically through college and have a successful career. Brown also shares his complaints about the conflicting expectations of him to be a hard working, college-prepared young adult, as well as a fun and social teenager. The major theme of his piece is the stress of finding a balance between the two, but he fails to provide any solution to manage this stress other than asking for a lighter workload. Brown dictates how a family of successful graduates and his upbringing …show more content…
What he does not mention, however, is that this choice is actually ultimately his, and the possibilities that may happen if he chooses to go on a different path than his parents and classmates. His argument is one-sided and does not explore the consequences of defying the mold he puts himself into. This is why it is not fair for him to state his complaint of these expectations; he chooses his own free will to follow them. Brown shows us the benefits of straining himself: college acceptances, a high paying job, acceptance from his family. He also states that he has a worry over the negative side effects: extreme stress, exhaustion, and lack of enthusiasm. He is aware of the positive outcomes of this work, but seems to want to avoid the baggage and downsides. If Brown knows he can not have the end he wants without the means, he definitely does not show it in his article. While explaining his gripes with the education system, Brown repeats multiple lines throughout the article. Rather than amplifying the effect of his thoughts, they rather made them redundant and lose impact. That amount of words he repeats verbatim truly water down his points. Ethan Brown outlines the reasons that he is under pressure well, but does not support his reasoning of wanting the best of both …show more content…
He touches on a very relatable struggle for American high schoolers. His point is made incomplete because he offers no method of finding a solution to finding a balance between social and academic lives. The most derailing piece of his article is his attitude of ingratitude when he speaks of his financial privilege. Overall Brown depicts a problem that plagues so many teenagers, but does not support his argument as to why things need to