Small Fish, Big Pond
Madelyn LaPrade
Madelyn LaPrade
Going from being a big deal in middle school, back to a baby in high school can be challenging. For years, upperclassmen (specifically seniors) have taken it upon themselves to humble the freshmen. While the tactics used can seem harsh at times, students of Hillgrove love their babies and always enjoy helping them grow.
The first day of school makes people pretty nervous, but especially when it is your first day at a new school, surrounded by older kids who know you have no idea what you are doing. This applies to most freshmen. Ellie Flynn reports, “I was so nervous! Being in a new environment is just scary because you have nothing to base it on and are the only ones who seem to have no idea what they’re doing and that’s scary.” On the other hand, there are the brave few who look forward to it. Ava Greenwald stated, “I wasn’t nervous because I knew I would get a lot more freedom than middle school and more time in classes to get my work done.” But once school starts, the real nerves kick in.
While “Freshman Friday” is not exactly what it is made out to be in the movies, freshmen do get picked on quite a bit. This being a known fact, Ellie Flynn said, “I had a pretty good idea the upperclassmen were not going to be our biggest fans.” She also said, “Compared to other schools, the sophomores and upperclassmen are really nice to the freshmen.” But this may also have something to do with the new “no booing” rule that was put into place, saying that no students are allowed to boo the freshmen. However, the freshmen don not seem to agree with this rule. Jordan Davis reports, “I think it’s stupid because it’s a tradition.” Ava Greenwald referred to it as “dumb and pointless”, and Ellie Flynn called it “ridiculous!”
Being a freshman at a football game stereotypically means getting pushed up against the back fence and yelled at by seniors. At Hillgrove, the traditions are not so extreme. While they do get told to move back, freshmen are not necessarily bullied. They go to the games and have fun, just like the rest of us. Ellie Flynn said, “I feel like the seniors even help us get excited for kickoff.”
While freshmen are not favored by many upperclassmen, they also are not hated. As they grow and mature, the form relationships with upperclassmen, and the Hawks become one big, happy family.
The first day of school makes people pretty nervous, but especially when it is your first day at a new school, surrounded by older kids who know you have no idea what you are doing. This applies to most freshmen. Ellie Flynn reports, “I was so nervous! Being in a new environment is just scary because you have nothing to base it on and are the only ones who seem to have no idea what they’re doing and that’s scary.” On the other hand, there are the brave few who look forward to it. Ava Greenwald stated, “I wasn’t nervous because I knew I would get a lot more freedom than middle school and more time in classes to get my work done.” But once school starts, the real nerves kick in.
While “Freshman Friday” is not exactly what it is made out to be in the movies, freshmen do get picked on quite a bit. This being a known fact, Ellie Flynn said, “I had a pretty good idea the upperclassmen were not going to be our biggest fans.” She also said, “Compared to other schools, the sophomores and upperclassmen are really nice to the freshmen.” But this may also have something to do with the new “no booing” rule that was put into place, saying that no students are allowed to boo the freshmen. However, the freshmen don not seem to agree with this rule. Jordan Davis reports, “I think it’s stupid because it’s a tradition.” Ava Greenwald referred to it as “dumb and pointless”, and Ellie Flynn called it “ridiculous!”
Being a freshman at a football game stereotypically means getting pushed up against the back fence and yelled at by seniors. At Hillgrove, the traditions are not so extreme. While they do get told to move back, freshmen are not necessarily bullied. They go to the games and have fun, just like the rest of us. Ellie Flynn said, “I feel like the seniors even help us get excited for kickoff.”
While freshmen are not favored by many upperclassmen, they also are not hated. As they grow and mature, the form relationships with upperclassmen, and the Hawks become one big, happy family.