The thing about High School is, stereotypically, the things that give one power and respect in the real world aren’t the things that gain you power and respect there. I mean you can gain power and respect for being really attractive, or a great athlete but the chances of that workin’ out for you are about as likely as working your way up from fry-cook to being on the board of representative for McDonalds, which of course is the other career path for the young, pretty, and vacant.
Thus many intelligent people, soon to be on the path to power and respect in the real world (or at least a well paying job) spend time creating elaborate masks in the hopes of taping into this power and respect.
In my case, I kept trying to perfect my mask until I screwed up and got punished for it. Deep down I’m still that shy nerd I’ve always been…I think on the Hero’s Journey I’m at Atonement with the Father, which ultimately results in the hero’s death.
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