Seniors at SHS have one of the most challenging experiences in high school because they have to decide their futures from here on out. Their careers and college opportunities ride on their success in this special year. Teachers and staff provide some privileges, such as their own cafe, senior nights, and leniency toward school rules. However, these privileges are minimal, and seniors wish to see more focus on academic support. Additionally, underclassmen have some similar opinions and interesting interpretations, and students truly have a lot to say from various perspectives.
When SHS freshman Chloe Beal was asked about her feelings and opinions on seniority, she simply stated, “I haven’t felt overlooked due to their priorities because they don’t affect me.” She also understands how they gain these privileges, mainly since it’s their last year of high school. In her opinion, seniors have more priorities, receive a lot more freedom, and do not seem to have to follow as many rules. She also noted how seniors act differently toward upperclassmen, but it’s not in a disrespectful or harmful way and simply comes naturally. When questioned about who is responsible for establishing these attitudes and rules, she answered, “Seniors make these privileges and their school social status themselves. She then added, “It’s most likely because they are older than the majority of us,” as her reasoning.
Nina Gibson, a sophomore at Scituate High School, said she has seen multiple different forms of seniority throughout her two years at the high school. She believes it makes sense that seniors have priorities, since they are older and have more experience in high school. Nina hears a lot about the opportunities the seniors have and looks forward to her future with senior nights, the senior cafe, and loudspeaker announcements specifically for seniors.
Gibson also recognized that over the years, more unwritten rules have emerged, and as she’s become a sophomore, she’s noticed the gap between her and the seniors isn’t that big. Gibson also observed that some people in high school seem to have a different interpretation of what it means to have more priorities than others. She explained, “Most of these priorities are unwritten and are just a known part of the school hierarchy.” It’s also implied that the underclassmen just automatically know that the seniors and upperclassmen are superior because of their understanding of how age affects the respect you should receive and offer.
To understand the upperclassmen’s opinions, SHS junior Izzy Adams was asked to share her thoughts on how sports captains are chosen. Known as an exceptional varsity lacrosse captain for the girls’ team, Adams commented, “My job as a captain on a varsity sports team means uplifting new and returning players while making sure connections are active throughout all grades and making everyone feel included.” Adams believes she earned this position not by her status as a junior, but by being part of the team and the community since her first year of high school, and by serving as a role model over the past three years.
Adams stated, “My teammates view me as encouraging, not just as a player, but as a teammate,” which is why she believes she was picked as captain. In past years, she has viewed captains and seniors as positive role models and believes they have all been chosen fairly. She also notes that the upperclassmen experience applies more pressure through the expectation to participate in multiple clubs and serve as an exemplar for underclassmen. She advises underclassmen joining lacrosse or other high school sports not to be afraid to step out of their comfort zone and create relationships with other players.
Penny Murray, a senior and an inspirational captain of the SHS girls’ varsity soccer team, shared similar opinions to Adams’ but added a new perspective on the changes to the privileges seniors receive and provided insightful information on what the primary stakeholder of this topic has to share. When asked about her point of view on senior privileges, she stated, “Teachers are much more lenient, like how they allow seniors to have access to their phones during certain periods.” When asked about the most well-known senior privilege, the senior cafe, she believed that the senior cafe is fair because, “that’s one of the only senior privileges we have left, and I think it’s good because it’s big enough because we have the PAC lobby too.”
Compared to last year, Murray said senior year is easier because “you’ve learned how to manage it well. Plus, with sports and everything, it’s a lot more fun because it’s your last time playing with these girls.” In comparison, the senior privileges have changed year to year, and under Penny’s observation of other senior classes, she noted that they were able to leave during lunch, but that no longer remains, and they also took away studies.
Referring to being a senior on the soccer team, Murray said, “I don’t feel like I’m better than everyone, but it’s nice that I get to get involved in decision-making, like what type of hoodies we buy.” She enjoys having a say in something she’s very passionate about, but noted that this privilege is hard-earned: “The coach makes the majority of the calls and main decisions, but I can suggest things during practice for the team and help with the small things.”
Though some of the advantages seniors receive seem preferable, Murray wishes others were added, such as free period studies, which existed in prior years and were most recently removed from schedules. Murray stated, “I wish studies would come back because it would be really helpful, especially with seniors and senior year being so hard because everyone is trying to do well in classes and get into college.”
Though it may seem that seniors are superior to underclassmen, they don’t receive as many privileges as in prior years, and their school life is as challenging, if not more challenging, than the other classes due to their preparation for college and ultimately their futures and careers. It’s also clear that we can all agree that seniors deserve the upper hand and privileges that make their school experience easier, whether it’s as small as a designated lunch room for socializing with friends and classmates.