In the Britannica dictionary, the word popularity means ¨the state of being liked, enjoyed, accepted, or done by a large number of people¨. As a result, when looking back at many movies that explore the theme of popularity, we find Mean Girls, Heathers, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Project X and Easy A. These movies correlate with the dictionary definition of popularity. Still, the truth is that movies don’t always get it right, and the Hazelwood West Seniors couldn’t disagree more with this stereotypical definition of ‘popular.’
In a random poll, West Seniors indicated that the most popular senior at West is Frank Mwangi. Although Mwangi was crowned Prom King in his junior year and is a well-known Cross-Country and Track and Field athlete, Mwangi himself reports that he believes his popularity stems from means beyond being a stereotype.
¨ It’s about being involved, and if you can get people together, ¨ said Mwangi. This definition seems quite different from most people’s perception of what being popular is stereotypically, and similarly, a study done at West Seniors reported that even though there is popularity in the senior class, it is someone’s involvement that defines it. 75% of the students agreed and said there is a distinguishable form of popularity. Of these seniors who agreed, all of them said that popularity is seen in the form of having a lot of friends or being easily known by everyone else in the grade.
Cristian Ibarra-Castro, grade 12, who is a varsity soccer player, said popularity in the senior class is seen as being ¨most known and someone hip with everybody¨. Kamar Brown, grade 12, who is in theatre, said something quite similar: ¨popularity is someone likable and has a lot of friends¨.
Contrary to the definition of popularity, it seems Hazelwood West seniors have a distinct idea of what popularity is on their own accord. Although not all people who are deemed ¨popular¨ in the senior class are necessarily likable in their characteristics. Findings reveal how this year’s senior class has stepped up to make school spirit a positive thing. This should encourage students to engage more with the school and their peers. You never know who might start to recognize you as a rising well well-known student.
