Dan+F's+2015+OpEd+Article

** There are no two words in the English language more harmful than "good job." **

Dear Advanced Placement U.S. History students,

First off, let me commend you for taking a university level course your junior year of high school. You have one foot in the world of high school and the other firmly planted in university rigor. Are you in the right place? I am assuming that since you are still coming to class that you have always been gifted and talented and you know the benefits of studying long hours and working hard. You take notes of lectures and even record lecture. You may even be able to tame the DBQ beast. For sure you are charismatic and ask questions. In fact, I am sure you were the star of your middle school and previous classes. And quite frankly, I don't care!

What I do care about is how brilliant you are. Not the run of the mill perfect mediocrity. I am talking about real, raw and genuine flawed brilliance. Yes it IS COMPLICATED. It is always complicated. So let me backtrack some before you begin to hurl insults my way. So you understand my perspective, I spent the evening watching the Oscar Nominated film, Whiplash. I can't stop thinking about it. I won't ruin the film for you so don't fear in reading further. For better or worse, I found myself relating to the music teacher. Besides the obvious in that the music teacher Terrence Fletcher, played by Oscar winner J.K. Simmons, and I share the same sans-hair fashion, there is something more haunting and prolific about what I see in him. It is partly to do with the fact that as I am in charge of the best and the brightest (that's you by the way) and therefore tasked with the arduous challenge of making you world class historical thinkers and helping you to attain entry into that elite university you have dreamed about. And here is wherein lies the problem, how do I break you just enough and allow you to build yourself up even better and stronger than ever before Back to the start of this slanted editorial. I don't care about your past achievements. I only care about what you can become. I won't tell you good job and I won't let you get by on your lazy habits. Does that make me the enemy? Now, is good ever the enemy of great. Perhaps yes. Then again, perhaps it is not that easy.