> For me, the last bit about having older and younger friends is something dearly missing from the typical school experience. Regimentation by age is present nowhere else in life, and I think it hinders lots of people straight out of school.
This hit me hard. An interaction I had with a highschool friend last week got me thinking. Much of my perception around relationships and age were colored by the fact that I went to school with the same 60 people for nearly 20 years straight (small town) and almost never interacted with anyone outside of an incredibly narrow age band. I didn't really disabuse myself of that (mostly subconscious) way of interacting with other humans until my late twenties. Wonder what I missed.
Also, just realized who I was replying to. Hey Clark, long time no see, hope you're well.
> School for 20 years straight in a small town? What country is that? In the US there is usually just K-12 in a single school system.
In a single school system, sure. The same small town is also likely to have preschool of 2-3 years, and maybe a public or private community or junior college or vocational school, which gets you 2-3 + 13 + 2 = 17-18 years, not far off of 20.
This hit me hard. An interaction I had with a highschool friend last week got me thinking. Much of my perception around relationships and age were colored by the fact that I went to school with the same 60 people for nearly 20 years straight (small town) and almost never interacted with anyone outside of an incredibly narrow age band. I didn't really disabuse myself of that (mostly subconscious) way of interacting with other humans until my late twenties. Wonder what I missed.
Also, just realized who I was replying to. Hey Clark, long time no see, hope you're well.