Vaping and throwing open bottles of pop at the football games; refusing to cooperate when asked to help redistribute the basketball student section; complaining about the loss of “rights” when told that dogs would be used to locate illegal substances in the school. All of these are things that Northview has witnessed from the freshmen this year, none of them have been proud moments for our student body.
To make a blanket statement that all freshmen are immature or obstructive is inaccurate. That being said, there is an overall disappointment in the freshman class that many upperclassmen hold. This is a result of a select few individuals who lack the maturity to function well in a high school setting.
So how does the freshman class and the rest of Northview work together in order to live more symbiotically? The upperclassmen have to be willing to model the characteristics of adults for the freshmen. Freshmen have to be willing to consider upperclassmen as role models, not enemies.
Both sides have to show a level of humility and patience that has yet to be seen this school year.
Humility is the willingness to admit that you’re wrong; for the freshmen it means that sometimes, the people who have been in high school longer than you, know more about high school than you do. Listen to them, take their advice.
Patience is the willingness to show kindness and understanding; for the upperclassmen it means considering things from a beginner’s perspective. Even if a situation may be routine for you, it may not be so simple for a freshman who’s never experienced it before.
Be kind.
Show them how to behave and don’t chastise them for not knowing something that’s never been explained to them.
To the freshmen, I get it. Everyone in high school was a freshman at one point. I understand the frustration of not being listened to and the unpleasantness of being on the butt end of seniority.
I also understand that no one is devoid of imperfections. Gaining the maturity to be a responsible student can be difficult.
Everyone feels the transition from middle school to high school, but having a difficult time adapting to high school doesn’t make you special. Choosing to rise to the occasion and becoming a positive contributor to the student body does.
The Golden Rule is a good starting point for evaluating social behavior _+and responses. Would I want an open bottle of pop thrown at me? Would I want someone to stash illegal stuff in my locker? Will I deserve respect when I’m a senior? Do Unto Others As You Would Have Them Do To You.