There was a time in life in which the line of division separating Nerds and Jocks was clear. Nerds were ninety-pound weaklings, who wore horn rimmed glasses, wrist watches and pocket protectors. They were reliable students who often found themselves on the receiving end of A plus averages, socks for Christmas and group inflicted wedgies. The jocks on the other hand were big, hunks of muscle with plenty of female fans, great clothes and invitations to parties. Unfortunately, they were often under pressure to maintain the status quo, of being dimwits.

During the nineties, there came a revolution that would blur the line between the two cultures, in the years to come. Many nerds no longer wanted to be confined to computers and traditional Nerddom. They started working out and becoming members of athletic teams. Of course, the jocks had to compete in order to survive and began to take academia seriously. The honor rolls became infiltrated by champion athletes, who had both brains and the brawn. They became the students most sought after by Ivy league schools and since then the culture has continued to thrive in the professional world. Nerds were no longer weaklings and jocks were no longer dumb.

It doesn’t become apparent as to whom is what, until well after graduation and entering the workforce. A trip through wall street, medical center or law firm will open your eyes to these differences. You may walk into an office of any such professional and find clues as to where they really belong. For example, lets use a profession which tends to attract both types due to the emphasis on the most important muscle in the body, the heart. A nerd cardiologist is usually the temperamental, demanding type who usually drives a Volvo, vacations in the Alps, and never fails to stop by Starbucks in the morning. On the other hand, a Jock is usually easy going, arrives in the office after working out at the gym, drives a Porsche and may spend his vacation rock climbing in the Dolomites. I would have to say, that from this example the jock has had the greater career success. Everyone wants to work for him because he is so easy going, and popular.

This is but one example of the melding of jocks and nerds in greater society but it is an ever increasing phenomenon, that makes it difficult to judge the career success between the two. We can even point to the sitting president of the United States, although the book is still out on whether he is a true jock or a nerd. We will just have to wait and see.