The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth

College isn’t an instant panacea, but many individuals experience Quirk Theory in operation during the transition from high school to college. For example, Blue gets through to the final round of admissions because he is “different,” and his new friends admire the traits for which he was bullied in the past.

Each of the “characters” shadowed in The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth possesses qualities that will command respect outside of school. Blue is creative, Danielle enquiring and altruistic, Noah empathic, Joy resilient. Eli is erudite, Regan authentic, and Whitney charismatic. Derogative labels in high school later transform into benefits. “Freaks” are often creative, for instance. Nerd subcultures have undergone a resurgence in recent years, and some nerds, like Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, go on to reap incredible financial rewards for their geekiness. College is more accepting of diversity.

Noah’s recycling drive has built bridges with students from various social groups and raised his self-esteem. His grades and mental health also improve. The principal asks Noah to join the Senior Advisory Council. At the orientation for Westcoast University, Eli steps out of his comfort zone to befriend Lindsey and immediately feels more hopeful about his social future. Joy’s former bullies spur her on when she struggles at swimming. Through her friendliness and confidence, she has inadvertently become popular. Blue’s friends and family congratulate him at his graduation, and he feels motivated to work hard at community college and win a place at the University of Hawaii. Danielle is given extra shifts at Dairy Queen over the summer because of her work ethic. She and Logan become especially close and have more in common than Danielle did with other friends.

In the Robbers Cave experiment in Chapter 8, the two groups of boys received collaborative tasks, leading to a dramatic new sense of unity. Though The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth advocates individuality, the individuals interviewed all shared a common need for connection. In 2010, five students committed suicide because bullies believed they were gay. The following are 31 action steps for students, parents, and schools to prevent such alienation.

Students can:

·       Know that being different doesn’t mean they are flawed

·       Give everyone a chance

·       Remember that loneliness won’t last forever

·       Try confidence and humor

·       Stop trying to conform

·       Find an ally

·       Pursue extracurricular activities

Parents can:

·       Stop worrying about social status

·       Avoid assuming you know what your child wants

·       Encourage individuality

·       Have faith in your child

·       Consider switching schools

·       Lobby for changes in schools

Schools can:

·       Re-think cafeteria seating plans to encourage mingling

·       Offer safe havens in after school clubs and a range of opportunities

·       Create joint goals that transcend group boundaries

·       Monitor physical and alternative aggression

·       Offer statistical overviews of alcohol, cigarette, and drug abuse

·       Treat all groups equally

·       Have equitable credit requirements for academic and athletic activities

·       Encourage unexpected introductions and mentorship between grades

·       Facilitate connections

·       Offer marginalized individuals the opportunity to be visible

·       Encourage voting and provide opportunities for self-esteem building

·       Avoid exclusivity

·       Reach out

·       Promote creativity

·       Improve staff relationships as a precedent

·       Confront issues directly

·       Have a visible anti-bullying procedure and contact person

It is natural to want to join groups, but there is a catch. When a group guesses the number of jellybeans in a jar, their guess is usually accurate. Yet this only works when individuals choose separately, Gregory Berns explains in Iconoclast. Therefore, conformity negates the benefits of belonging to a group. Non-conformists are not only personally free, they afford society creativity, courage, and progress.