Independent, active, athletic, creative, interesting, and community minded. These are words we might use to describe Indiana University High School students.
In the fall of 2005, we surveyed IUHS students about their activities, interests, and concerns. From the many survey responses, we learned a lot about these students as a group-and as unique and interesting individuals.
In their free time, IUHS students most often choose to participate in sports and outdoor activities. Spending time with friends and family is the next most popular activity, followed by reading and TV/movies/videogames. When we asked about hobbies, sports and outdoor activities accounted for 44 percent of the activities named. The creative arts - music, dance, drawing, painting, and writing - accounted for 29 percent of activities named. While basketball was the most popular sport, students also told us they like such sports as riding horses, wrestling, rock climbing, and fencing. Steven from Ypsilanti, MI, rides motocross.
Creative interests range from ballet and modern dance, to music composition, singing, and playing piano, violin, and drums. Kyle from Ellicott City, MD, enjoys playing bass guitar.
Many IUHS students - more than 61 percent - find time to volunteer in their communities at such places as soup kitchens, hospitals, churches, libraries, even the zoo. For other students, community service takes the form of performing for, or teaching and tutoring those in need.
With all these interests and activities, it's hard to imagine how IUHS students find time for paying jobs, but 37 percent do. Babysitting and pet-sitting are most the common jobs, but others work in diverse settings such as a nursing home, catering business, tennis center, and the US Navy. Laura, from Waldport, OR, works as an artist in her mother's henna tattoo shop.
Students are looking ahead to careers in a number of fields, with healthcare receiving the most interest. The variety of career goals is clearly seen in the chart below:
As a stepping stone to their careers, 80 percent plan to go to college. To prepare, they report working hard for good grades, taking the SAT and ACT, participating in extracurricular activities and volunteering, and applying for scholarships.
IUHS students were quite varied when asked about their favorite books and movies. Sixty-two different movies were named, with the Lord of the Rings movies being the only movies mentioned by more than three people. Reading tastes are fairly evenly divided between fiction and nonfiction, with books in the fantasy and science fiction category being most mentioned.
Almost all students reported using the Internet - most often for schoolwork and research, but also for socializing and e-mail. Some listen to music, bank, and shop on the Internet. Anna from West Harrison, IN, and Emma from Fishers, IN, are two of several students who actually do Web design.
IUHS students offered a variety of responses to the question, "What is the most significant problem facing your generation?" Substance abuse - of alcohol, drugs, and tobacco - was named most frequently, followed by apathy and low motivation. Other students mentioned problems with the economy, the environment, immorality and dishonesty, and peer/parental pressure. Meghan from Snellville, GA, is concerned with "what has happened to the environment - specifically, the amount of garbage, global warming, and the rate that natural resources are being used." Sarah, from Elburn, IL , believes that "laziness keeps people from reaching their true potential and goals." Marisa, from Chicago, IL, believes that "not enough people care about what is happening in the world; they are too concerned with what is happening in their own lives."
When asked to name the contemporary figure they most admire, students named friends, relatives, teachers, political figures, and celebrities - no one individual was named repeatedly. The qualities admired in these people were intelligence, commitment and dedication, service to others, and overcoming adversity. Katrina from Raleigh, NC, named tennis pro James Blake because "he made a recent comeback after a serious injury, his father's death and paralysis." Hannah from Noblesville, IN, named her main dance instructor because "she is an inspiring person and a huge encouragement/mentor." Laura from Evansville, IN, chose US Senator Richard Lugar (IN) because he is a person who "uses his power to truly help and is not swayed by the politics of the Senate when he votes on bills."
If you are an IUHS student, you're in good company. We hope you have enjoyed reading about yourself and your fellow students. If you are thinking about becoming an IUHS student, welcome to a most interesting high school!
