Along with two arts and three and a half history credits, there are certain unwritten prerequisites Parker students must complete before graduation rolls around in June. Although we are undoubtedly expected to grasp the fundamentals of any given subject (sentence structures, geometry theorems, key players in the American Revolution), there is an additional expectation that we are equipped with skills unrelated to academic performance. Just as we have mastered concepts on the ACT, Parker students are excellent in problem-solving, creativity, critical thinking, and, of course, networking.

When selecting a high school, families often gravitate to Parker for its progressive education, small class sizes, and emphasis on community engagement. Although unspoken, the networking opportunities available to students at Parker are a slam dunk in the pro column. Where it normally takes years to get a foot in the door of a highly-coveted industry, Parker students have the luxury of contacting Parker alumni or parents who wield significant power and influence in their respective fields with a simple email or phone call. With access to Hollywood actors, billionaire entrepreneurs, and political powerhouses, the connections made at Parker are far-reaching. 

Today, networking is considered an essential activity to getting on a track to success. Overwhelming research shows that networking leads to a surge of job and business opportunities, faster advancement, and heightened status and authority. At 14-years old, we are getting a head start on this business endeavor at FWP. 

On a groggy Wednesday morning, I sat in my first-period class staring onto the soccer field, now covered in snow, distracted by a comment which had been echoing in my head from the day before: 

“Friendships are networking opportunities.”

 As I looked around the room at my peers, some of whom were focused intently on the board while others were busy whispering, I couldn’t help but think there was some truth in this. In the coming year, many of them are destined to attend elite universities. After college, many will continue on to prestigious graduate schools and enter the workforce with intensity and connections which will allow them to quickly rise through the ranks. The teenagers now focused on deadlines and derivatives have the potential to be future CEOs of multi-million dollar companies, tech developers at Google, or political correspondents in the White House.

Although this comment and my analysis of it may be shallow or melodramatic, one must admit that these are the people you want to know down the line. I wonder, though: do we behave differently towards classmates who are predicted to become adults with immense success, knowing that niceties throughout high school may benefit our future business endeavors? We may not consider such potential benefits when selecting friends freshman year, but some find comfort in knowing that a partner in a group project may become something big, just in case they ever find themselves in need of a foot in the door for a job or opportunity. 

After four years, we have gotten to know each other beyond simple acquaintances. We have shared inside jokes, traditions, and secrets. Claiming that we are purely commodities to one another would be a gross overstatement. However, the collision of networking and genuine friendship is an unusual dynamic Parker students must maneuver as a part of their daily high school life.