August 16, 2005

  • I'm sure everyone's heard the expression "Poor little rich kid."

    The Dallas Morning News has
    been publishing a series of articles on Collin county (north of Dallas
    proper), which is one of the wealthiest areas in the country.

    Today's article touches on the kids of Collin county:

    Nothing but the best from Mom and Dad

    It's the end of the day at Plano West Senior High School, and teenagers
    are pouring into the parking lot.

    One jumps into a BMW M3. Another takes off in a Jaguar X-Type. A Land
    Rover joins the pack.

    Senior Jodi Payson drives a black Hummer H2. She carries a Louis Vuitton
    purse and a credit card with no limit.

    Last year, Jodi was among the privileged class at Plano West that sets
    the unspoken benchmark that many other students – and therefore their
    parents – strive to attain.

    Plano West stands out for its students' affluence and their academic
    achievements, but it is as representative as any Collin County school in
    that parents say they feel pressure, from their children and their
    surroundings, to meet the highest lifestyle standards.

    Competition starts early. Parents try to outdo one another on birthday
    parties with limousine chauffeurs and costumed characters.

    By the time they're teenagers, children can shop on their own, which
    takes the spending to a whole new level.


    They want bigger toys, including cars, and they won't settle for the
    type of jalopy their parents drove when they were 16.

    I'd think it'd be depressing to have so much stuff when one is that
    young.  What the deuce is there to look forward to, except trying
    to maintain?  Not to mention, it's debatable whether or not such
    hedonistic spending qualifies as the "highest lifestyle
    standard."  Not in my book, it doesn't.

Comments (6)

  • When I was in high school (Lamar in Arlington)  there was a kid with a NICE sports car. I remember not liking him much. He lived in Interlochen, too. No fun if you are just handed things. Then you get to life and well, it sucks. !  

  • "Highest lifestyle standard," might include learning old fashioned things like self-control, restraint, hearing the word, "No!"

    This is about the saddest thing I've ever heard. A whole stinkin' school?? Who'd wanna live in that community!?

    me<><

  • Yeah, it gets pretty depressing when the students drive better cars than the professors!

  • I have a friend that went to school in Plano.  She and a lot of her friends sufered from depression and eating disorders.  I guess you not only had to have the best car, but also the 'perfect body image'.  So sad.  She also said that her high school had a very high suicide rate.  Obviously getting the biggest and the best 'stuff' isn't going to make you happy.  Why don't they search for God instead?  He'll provide all they need.

  • WOW! Your granddaughter can write her own posts AND has graduated from high school already?? WOW! Not bad for a kid less than six months old. ;)

    me<><

  • Ivys are ahead of the curve, sweetie.

    I was thinking about that, in fact, Beth, and remembering when there was a veritable suicide "epidemic" among high schoolers in Plano many years ago. As you say, they're looking in all the wrong places for satisfaction and completion.

    However, like the Sage wrote hundreds of years ago: "There is nothing new under the sun."

Comments are closed.

Post a Comment