The Great Gatsbification of Education

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    Have you ever wondered why you took this class, AP Language? Was it because you’re genuinely interested in English and literature? Or maybe because it looks good on college applications? Or, if we’re being honest, perhaps just to feel a little superior to the non-AP English 11 students?

    Full disclosure: whatever your reason is, I’m not judging. At the end of the day, it’s your personal choice. If I were to answer that question myself, I could confidently say that every decision I made in my education was made by me, for my own benefit. Even though there might have been some influence, they were all ultimately my own. I’m taking five APs this year, ranging from AP Psychology to AP Calculus. People often ask me why my APs aren’t focused on one subject area. My answer is simple: I’m not sure what my dream career looks like yet. Like Gatsby, I don’t know exactly what I’ll be doing in the future, but I know it will be something I love.

    I often hear people say things like, “I’m taking six APs this year, including Physics C and Chemistry.” Again, no judgment—I respect their effort and ambition. But many of those same people have a mindset I find a bit troubling. When I ask why they’re taking those classes, the answers usually fall into three categories: “My parents made me", “It looks good for college", “It just makes me look smart”.

That’s when I started realizing how similar these students are to Gatsby. Not because they’re “Gatsbifying” their education, but because they share the same belief that materialism equals success. They believe that good grades, like Gatsby’s wealth, are what bring happiness and respect.

    Gatsby thought he could win Daisy’s love with wealth and status, and for a while, it seemed to be working. But just as with grades and APs, his wealth was only what he believed would help him achieve the American Dream. Deep down, Gatsby truly loved Daisy; his sacrifices proved that. Taking the fall for Myrtle’s death, throwing those endless parties, all stemmed from his devotion. His relentless pursuit of Daisy mirrors our modern obsession with the so-called “American Dream.”

    But here’s the problem—I think that the American Dream is dead, and maybe it has been since the Jazz Age. In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald illustrates how the American Dream decayed into a pursuit of wealth and recklessness. Today, that false dream lives on in our education system, our careers, our friendships, our hobbies, and, to be frank, almost anything. I find it somewhat unfortunate that we have drifted away from the purposes of things that actually meant something back in the day, such as family dinners, hanging out with friends, and even homecoming. All these moments used to be special, and we would cherish every one of them. There was a time when we had no phones; all we did was talk with family. Now, at every dinner, we take more pictures than the number of glasses of water we drink.

    We’ve normalized “Gatsbifying” our lives—chasing prestige over purpose. Some students overload on APs for the sake of success, not out of a love for learning. Some people listen to music they don’t even enjoy to blend in, and some even criticize music they think is not good, or use it as an excuse to play the wrong keys: cough, cough, "Ethan Wang".

    Ultimately, we’re living in a materialistic world with limited time. Grades, money, and materials are all temporary. What truly lasts is the journey: the friends we make, the people we meet, and the moments we experience. Someday, the stress over AP exams and college apps will become a tale that we laugh about. So no matter what classes you’re taking or how your academic performance looks right now, don’t let these things define your worth. As J. Cole reminds us in Love Yourz, "No such thing as a life that's better than yours," and as Tupac once said, “Keep ya head up”. Enjoy the journey!