I am Better Than You

May Abi Samra

“Does anyone have a pen?” asked a student at one of the Beirut universities. No one answered. Then the student asked the teacher if he could lend him one. 

“Why did you come to class without a pen? I am not going to give you one!” responded the teacher. “I will give you $1,000 if you give me a pen,” responded the student arrogantly. When the teacher accepted, the student counted the cash in front of the entire classroom before handing the notes over. The student was very proud of himself:  not only did he get his pen, but he also got the opportunity to show off to his classmates the amount of money he can spend. Fortunately, the teacher gave him back the sum at the end of the period. 

Students from certain universities are known for “showing off”.  They implement various strategies to demonstrate how special they are and to attract attention.  

For example, two weeks ago, a student arrived at an Arabic Rhetoric class smoking. It was 10 minutes before the beginning of the class and so only a few students were there. 

“You are not allowed to smoke in the classrooms,” pointed out one annoyed student. “I am only putting my book on the chair and then I am leaving!” retorted the student proudly before flicking ash on the teacher’s table.

This student did not have a particular problem with the teacher; this was only his way of showing that he is not afraid of anything. He can throw ash on the table and no one can stop him. 

From showing off one's money to the entire classroom to behaving arrogantly with no fear of punishment, these are some of the new and creative ways used by a number of students to say: I am simply better than you.