Fighting Student Apathy

      Since this is my first post, I will start off with a small introductory. My name is Kelli, and I'm a 17 year old junior at Hinsdale  South High School. I have attended this school every single year, excluding a 6 month period in which I studied abroad in Russia. I'd like to think I'm smart, but I'm a firm believer in Socrates's philosophy: "We know nothing."
      I'm writing this blog to provide a student's insight into what the heart of Hinsdale South really is. I like to think as myself as also being unbiased towards life at Hinsdale South, especially considering the fact I like to remain an individual at the school, and I consider myself to not belong to any particular friend group. I'd rather observe people, as compared to talking to them.
       One thing I believe our students need to change (Rather sooner than later) is their constant apathy at all things school related. I, myself, enjoy politics (recently accepted to study politics at Capitol Hill and Georgetown U. this summer), and feel that students should WANT to get involved at their school. I can see the ambition in honors and AP students (perhaps their parents push them to have this ambition), but was rather appalled at what I've seen in the "regulars" classes. Not only people who had poor behavior records, but teenagers who seriously are smart, great people have seemed to given up on their school life in total. 
        Teenagers aren't motivated (keyword here) to do quite anything. I've asked various students about their grades, clubs, our school board, etc. I've gotten the same answers: Grades "who gives a f**** if I fail"; clubs "that's just for overachievers"; school board "Some BS about R-rated movies, am I right?" If they have a problem with any of the above, they do not message teachers, they do not write letters, they don't stand up appropriately. They either lash out violently or don't do anything at all. And I think this is common in nearly every high school, which is one of the reasons why politics are going downhill, and violence is increasing. But why should students care when they aren't given opportunity? Administrators, school board, and teachers (mostly the first two) are key in this, and I think they are failing to let teenagers speak up, be encouraged, or have a matter in any case.