OPINION: A freshman farewell to the seniors
Freshman Aurora Alexander
For any senior out there, graduation is an exciting time, whether or not you want to graduate and take on the responsibilities life plans on throwing at you, or if you wish you could stay a kid forever, carefree and untroubled. However, graduation is also an exciting time for us underclassmen. Some of our senior friends are leaving for college and maybe even a brother or sister is about to leave to some faraway place.
However, the excitement might also be caused from another source, perhaps, something related to the pressure freshmen receive from the seniors or the lesser attention they receive. Seniors are a big part of Wenatchee High School because of the fact that they’re about to embark on the journey of life.
But, high school is a big part of a freshman’s life, too. This is the year that school is becoming something more serious and less laid back. This is the year that they become the underdogs instead of the older, more matured eighth-graders. In my opinion, the freshmen could have a bigger focus too throughout the school year, for our only real focus is during the very beginning of the year when we have the freshman orientation. And during that time, our small fame is just expressed to the teachers, not the rest of the school who thinks that we are just annoying newbies to the whole high school thing. In reality, we’re just adapting — just preparing for the next four years ahead of us. The seniors of 2014 were just annoying freshmen too; nervous and apprehensive about what’s to come.
Now the class of 2014 are freshmen at a different scale. College freshmen. Most likely just as nervous as we once were.
I do see, however, the other side of the argument; that seniors deserve as much fame as possible. They’re the experts at high school, assuming we can make “high school” a verb. They’re the ones who know most about everything that happens around here. They have experienced more than anyone else at WHS just because they’ve been here longer and have had the chance to witness these things and have had exposure to more than any of the underclassmen.
It’s been a big year for everyone; both upper and underclassmen. But now the year is almost over and all we can really do is sit back and reflect on what a year we all had.
Kristi DeLozier • Jun 2, 2014 at 10:32 pm
Sounds like you have observed a need. What are you going to do next? This is your chance to leave a legacy. I encourage you to work with your peers and mentors to create a year long program that supports next year’s freshman all year. Keep the energy going after orientation. Maybe you can rally around current events but have mentors invite underclassmen. Possibly have Freshmen events to encourage bonding and building life long friendships.
You have all sorts or resources from graduating seniors that may not be traveling too far, to your sophomore peers, and don’t forget your teachers. They have the most experience.
I hope you don’t let this opportunity slip through the cracks. It could be something pretty amazing to engage freshman and keep it going. I was involved but I wish I would have been much more engaged!
Class of 2001