When It Happens...Again

When It Happens...Again

In the book, "When It Happens," by Susane Colasanti, Sara, a nerd, finds true love by getting together with Tobey, a slacker. While finishing the book, I'm starting to see how much the characters have changed. I'm starting to wonder how much grades, popularity, and even friends can impact you either in a negative or a positive way. In the real world, it works the same by affecting how others will view you as.
       According to the story, because Sara became Dave, popular jock's girlfriend, her life completely changed. People who had once ignored her for being a dorky teacher's pet. starting complimenting of her discount shirts, talking with her in school, and even ate lunch with her. They claimed that they were her friends and she was cool and they should hang out all the time. After she dumps Dave for Tobey because he was always forcing her to do things she didn't wanted to, those so-called friends immediately stopped talking to her. What are friends, really? Just people you take advantage of and leave behind after they become useless? Obviously, people talked to her because she was Dave's girlfriend and being friends with her could get a ticket to become one of the popular kids. I googled up the definition of friends, and it says that it is "a person whom one knows, likes, and trusts". Is that the image I'm seeing from her friends? Someone who would be for you no matter what? Uh, no. In our society, "friendships" often formed for economic or political benefits. People become friends with celebrities to get fame, countries allies with other nations to increase trade, and much more! I think these shouldn't be considered friends, more like beneficial partners. I don't believe that you should take advantage of friends and just throw them away when they are worthless.
       I'm also noticing how grades can affect Tobey. In the beginning of the stories, teachers always pick on him and yells at him for slacking. Towards the end when he improves his grade to impress Sara, the teachers would give him smiles and stop being mean to him. Do grades really make people view you differently even though you are just the same as before? Teachers often pick favorites and treat them better than they do with other kids, but is this really right? Is it fair to value someone more than another because of how well they do in school. I think it's quite unjust to pick on the ones that really don't have the talent or skills for school. If this was in a different case where teachers like rich people more than the poor ones because they often donate money to school or such then would it be ethical? I don't think people should be treated differently. All men are equally, well women too, and and we should practice this rule in real life too and not just have it sitting on a paper.
       Therefore, things like popularity and grades can change so much as to how others think about you. We should all be treated equally. I believe that it's unfair for those factors to determine your personality.