Unlike middle school, the grades a student gets in high school -- and what courses he or she gets those grades in -- actually matter. Tenth grade is a rude awakening, with four difficult standardized tests (the PLAN, PSAT, WESTest and W.Va. Writing Assessment) throughout the year. The PSAT is the only optional test.

With all the mental stress and emphasis on grades, one sole topic comes repeatedly to academically inclined minds: college -- or more specifically college applications.

With so many students planning to attend college, the application process has become very competitive. Community service, grades and test scores weigh on the minds of those teenagers who are college-bound and not just because these things factor into college acceptance, but also because they play a role in obtaining scholarship money to attend college.

This is all very important. However, high school is the last four years of freedom before heading to college and becoming self-dependent. It's the last time that teens can be a little reckless and take classes for their enjoyment instead of for a career.

But now, there is a huge amount of pressure to take honors and other advanced classes. These classes are good for college transcripts and if a student wants to be challenged, but what if a student's heart lies elsewhere?

It's excellent that academic classes are thriving, but how about some balance? So much emphasis is placed on "smart" classes that arts classes are often set aside to gather dust. Isn't culture a big part of who a person becomes, though?

The appreciation of art amongst teens is often limited to talk about the latest single from Rihanna or of a famous actress' indiscretions. That is not art; it is gossip. It's dismaying to mention Bach and Handel to a classmate and hear them ask, "Is he some German soccer player?"

West Virginia only requires one fine arts credit to graduate, and many students opt out of classical culture classes in order to take "cake" classes, such as film appreciation.

Even outside the classroom, sports are held in greater esteem than arts-related extracurriculars. Athletics are closely followed, while vocal, visual and instrumental arts are never mentioned on the morning or afternoon announcements.

Classes like show choir, band and strings are seen by outsiders as easy, slightly dorky grade-boosters. In reality, the participants in the classes often find a greater value than can be put into words -- by producing beautiful music and being a part of a group that exists during school hours and beyond.

In an ideal world, academics, arts and sports would be near equals. That is not today's world.

No, this society is obsessed with aggressiveness and competition, as manifested in our overzealousness for sports and the ever-increasing competitive nature of class rankings. Classical music and art are fading away, held in little to no regard by at least half of the student population.