Viral TikTok Video Breaks Down Modern High School Frustrations
Navigating high school has long presented social and academic obstacles, but the integration of digital classrooms and personal devices has shifted how students interact with everyday school life. In a widely circulated “get ready with me” clip on TikTok, content creator Celeste Riemersma, posting under the handle @celesteriemersma, outlined five specific aspects of high school that cause her daily frustration. The video quickly gathered substantial attention online, generating over 629,900 views and more than 841 comments as viewers compared her experiences with their own high school memories and current campus policies.
Academic Gripes: Paper Assignments and Strict Phone Enforcement
The first major grievance highlighted by Celeste involves the disconnect between modern educational tech platforms and traditional paper assignments. She argued that educators fail to support students when physical handouts are given without complementary updates on digital systems like Google Classroom.
I hate when teachers will assign like, paper homework that’s due the next class and then not post a reminder for it on Google Classroom. Like genuinely, how do you expect me to remember that at like the bottom of a pile of papers in my backpack?
she says.
Her second complaint targeted classroom enforcement around smartphones, particularly when faculty members call out minor checks rather than prolonged distraction. Addressing strict digital device management, Celeste expressed irritation over public reprimands:
Another thing is I hate when teachers are like, overly needy about phones. Like, I get that you don’t want us to be on our phones for the whole class. I have teachers that like, whenever I literally just like send a text real quick or check the time, they like make a big deal out of it in front of the entire class. I’m like, can you actually not?
Celeste says.
Hallway Dynamics, Teacher Favoritism, and School Social Etiquette
Celeste also directed criticism toward certain faculty behaviors, specifically pointing out younger male teachers who attempt to bond with male student-athletes during designated study hours while disregarding other students.
We could be having like dead silent like in-class work time and the teacher will literally just be like, so guys, how’s the game last weekend? What are the plans for this weekend? What’s going on with the sports? Like, just because you didn’t have friends in high school and you didn’t get onto a sports team that you wanted to be on doesn’t make it less weird for you to try and be besties with your male students,
she says.
Social interactions among peers formed the remaining points on her list. Alongside expressing annoyance with crowded hallway and cafeteria bottlenecks created by lingering friend groups, she voiced frustration over classmates who intentionally overlook familiar peers in passing:
I hate when I see someone I know and I know for a fact that they see me, and they don’t even try to like, smile or say hi. They just like, walk past cause they think they’re too cool to like, acknowledge someone,
she says.
Finally, Celeste addressed the timeless unwritten rule regarding snacks and chewing gum in academic spaces, stating that possessiveness over supplies defies common campus culture:
People that never share their gum or just are weirdly, like, protective about it. If you bring gum into a high school, people are gonna ask you for it. And if you don’t want people to ask you, don’t bring them,
she says.
Audience Backlash and Competing Perspectives
The comment section beneath the video revealed a sharp divide between those who sympathized with Celeste and those who felt her expectations conflicted with the realities of higher education and institutional rules. Several respondents pushed back on her complaint about homework notifications, arguing that self-reliance is essential beyond secondary school.
If ur planning on going to college the 1st thing she said is like expected of u ur professors r not going to baby u and send u reminders to do urwork[sic]
one user commented.
Other commenters offered alternative interpretations of cold hallway encounters, attributing avoidance to social discomfort rather than arrogance:
Or maybe for the not saying hi one they just HATE to see people they know bc its awkward for them (speaking from experience),
they wrote.
Meanwhile, the debate over classroom technology policies highlighted far more punitive rules in other school districts, with one viewer writing:
At our school if you have your phone at all during school hours you get detention and it gets taken away and you have to pay $5 to get it back,
one user said.
Why This Matters
The viral discussion sparked by Celeste Riemersma reflects ongoing tension within the modern educational landscape. As schools transition between hybrid digital management systems such as Google Classroom and analog coursework, expectations surrounding accountability, communication, and digital etiquette continue to clash. The debate highlights differing generational views on whether institutions should accommodate constant digital integration or enforce strict boundaries to cultivate personal responsibility and minimize distractions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the creator behind the viral high school rant video?
The video was created by Celeste Riemersma, a TikTok creator who shares content under the handle @celesteriemersma.
What were the main complaints listed in the video?
Celeste identified five primary issues: teachers giving physical paper homework without digital reminders on Google Classroom, overzealous enforcement of cell phone bans, younger male teachers bonding excessively with male athletes during class, peers ignoring acquaintances in hallways or blocking pathways, and students who refuse to share chewing gum.
How did viewers respond to her points?
The reaction was mixed. Some commenters related to her social observations, while others argued that relying on digital homework reminders creates poor habits for college, defended students who avoid hallway eye contact due to social anxiety, and noted that many high schools enforce far harsher phone confiscation penalties.
