There was always that small group of students who carried a certain air in secondary school. They were not necessarily the loudest or the most troublesome. They moved through the corridors with the confidence of people who already knew they were running things. If you ever look back and wonder whether you were one of them, here are the classic signs.
- You had a signature walk
Every school had that popular walk. A steady pace. A slight sway. A calm assurance that made juniors shift aside. If people could identify you by the sound of your footsteps, you were already in the league. - You knew the teachers who mattered, and they knew you
Big boys and big girls were hardly ever lost in the crowd. The important teachers knew their names, not because they were always in trouble, but because they carried influence. They were the ones chosen to deliver welcome speeches or anchor events. - You owned prime real estate during break time
Your clique had a spot. It could be the corridor by the SS three class, the tree by the assembly ground or the cool side of the cafeteria. Nobody questioned it. That was your territory. - Your school bag did not match your status
Funny enough, the more popular you were, the smaller your bag became. Some people even carried nothing. A single notebook and a pen in your pocket were enough to announce that you had arrived. - You were trusted with school gossip before it became public
If you always heard the news before anyone else, you were part of the inner circle. Breakups, new couples, surprise tests, teacher transfers. You were the unofficial newsroom. - You never rushed for the school bus
Big boys and big girls walked to the gate like they had all the time in the world, even if the bell had rung. The bus would wait. Or at least it felt like it should. - Your juniors copied your style
From the way you tied your scarf to the way you packed your lunch, juniors were watching. If you ever caught someone imitating your handwriting or your slang, you were certified. - The end-of-year party revolved around you and your clique
Pictures, outfits and attention naturally gravitated your way. You did not force it. You simply knew how to show up.
Looking back now, these signs may seem funny, but they shaped some of the best memories of growing up. Secondary school was a world where reputation was built on confidence, friendships and little daily moments. If any of these lines remind you of yourself, you were definitely a big boy or big girl in your school days.