Survey Reveals That Teens Would Rather Be Cool Than Smart

An overwhelming majority of teens surveyed (67%) considers being called “cool” a more flattering compliment than “smart.” In addition, teen guys who responded to the survey would rather be named “life of the party” than “valedictorian” (58% vs. 27%). In fact, a higher percentage of respondents say they will spend more time getting ready for a party than studying the night before a test. Of those surveyed, 73% will devote at least a half-hour to primp for a night on the town, while only 42% will study for more than a half-hour the night before a test. If students aren’t devoting enough time to studying, there are some new high-tech ways to cheat. According to 25% of respondents, text messaging is a popular way to cheat on a test.

Well…DUH.

It’s sad, but true that one of the most important things to a teenager is simply fitting in. As someone who never quite did, but was the valedictorian, I’ll confirm that I would have rathered been the life of the party (as long as they weren’t drinking, anyway — I was an unsufferable goody-goody in high school).

Thank god I got past that whole crippling religion thing. Pass me a beer, would ya?