Senior

We’ve all done it, you see a freshman walk into the wrong class, or say something that didn’t make sense and you laugh. It’s no big deal, you think. I’ve spent years of my life getting to this point, but it becomes addictive. Consumes you like a drug.

Some would say it’s in our nature, and others might say it’s just for fun, but we’ve taken it pretty far. 

Seniors, there’s not a day that goes by where I don’t hear or see some freshman disrespect. Even though I’m part of the problem, think about what it’s doing to their self-esteem. 

We don’t hold back.

“They just say stuff loudly in front of everyone and don’t say excuse me or anything,” said senior Joaquin Cortez.

Let’s not pretend that as freshmen we weren’t doing that too. It’s the small things that collect into this giant ball of hate.

“I guess they’re kinda entitled…sometimes they’re annoying and don’t care about the people around them,” said senior Erica Phann.

But if you’ve ever seen any seniors walking down the 4000 building stairs, then you’d know seniors are no less entitled.

“They are small this year, like really small,” said Deqabis Johnson, an East Meck senior.

It’s just slander for the sake of slander.

Many seniors say these things because deep down within their three-sizes-too-small hearts they’re jealous of underclassmen.

Who wouldn’t want to be frolicking around campus with no cares in the world or wouldn’t be jealous of people without four hours of homework.

Besides, most of it’s just for fun, seniors can appreciate some things.

“They’re kinda funny…like they do something funny just because they don’t know what’s going on,” Cortez said. “Especially when you see them running to class, and they have a big bag, so it’s just a really big bag on a really small person.”

I can’t deny I’ve had a few freshmen make me laugh, despite my outward cool girl appearance.

“They’re pretty involved in clubs and stuff,” said Ahmed Mohamed, an East senior.

Given the number of freshmen this year, they’re practically breaking down club doors and crowding classrooms.

In all seriousness, let’s show some love to freshmen, for now. What helps me is thinking about their beady eyes looking right at you, severely disappointed.

Freshman

“I’m better than you because I’m older.” That’s annoying. Really annoying. If you’re a freshman, you’ve faced seniors who think like this. It’s a pretty childish view for an adult.

I get that seniors don’t want to interact with freshmen. 

I wouldn’t love being around a fifth grader, but I don’t expect a fifth grader to act and talk the same way I would. I expect a kid four years younger than me to still be dabbing and wearing unicorn shirts.

It’s unfair for seniors to think we should act as mature as they are. We’re not.

“I don’t think it’s weird for 14-year-olds to be at school with 18-year-olds. I just think it’s weird when they date each other,” said sophomore Fiona Mehltretter. “It’s not weird to be friends with each other, but when it turns romantic, that’s when it’s weird.”

“Yeah, I think it’s weird for us, 14-year-olds, to be at the same school as 18-year-olds,” said freshman Anna Rugza.

But hey, “Age ain’t nothin’ but a number” right? 

Just kidding, I would never back up my claim with an R. Kelly quote.

I’ve got integrity.

While we’re on the topic, I think we all need to admit something. When I’m a senior, you’re not going to be seeing me defending freshmen the way I am now. I don’t think any of us are gonna wanna be besties with a freshman at the ‘ripe’ age of 18.

“I mean, I already make fun of freshmen, and I am one,”  Polly Weaver said. “So yeah, I hear them call us annoying and make fun of us all but I’ll probably do the same thing when I’m a senior.” 

I think everyone can understand, to a certain extent, the frustration with freshmen. There are almost 1,000 of us. It’s like when you leave a piece of ham on the floor in class and after one night, the ants have completely taken over. 

But one day, those ants will form their own tight-knit hive.