Many people say that the ‘stereotype’ for freshmen is that they are ‘mean’ and ‘different’ from how freshmen used to be. Many students from different schools witness or even experience stereotypes that hit freshmen harder than any other grade.
“Yes, I believe freshmen do have insane stereotypes,” says Charley Harris, a freshman from Searcy High School. Many studies show that freshmen from other schools are looked down upon for ‘statistically being dumber’ as results from standardized tests and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) show that younger generations’ scores have been declining since 2015, academically and emotionally. Charley also believes upperclassmen have a negative bias because freshmen are younger, “I believe they see us as ‘little’ and that we know nothing. Upperclassmen also don’t think we are mature enough for a conversation. Though they haven’t said that, their demeanor towards us freshmen gives it away.”
When upperclassmen were surveyed, the following words frequently came up to describe freshmen:
Annoying- The majority of students disagreed with the description, though around 10% of the freshmen did actually agree, saying that freshmen being annoying was ‘50/50’ and that it’s all from perspective and opinionated by who others deem annoying.
Dumb (academically incapable)- countless students disagreed, many of them said that they believe freshmen are actually very intelligent, and a vast majority of freshmen said that it was only a matter of effort. Emersen Jefford, a freshman said, “No, I believe that we are actually one of the smarter grades, maybe because we don’t bend backwards trying to prove ourselves, we seem ‘dumb’ to upperclassmen. But me and many other freshmen I know are in AP classes with upperclassmen and still have better grades.”
Immature- The students who were interviewed gave varying opinions about this description of freshman. Kaydn Ayers, another freshman, stated that “Freshmen have experienced as much or even more than upperclassmen have, we just cover up a lot of our problems with humor and un-seriousness.” Even other upperclassmen agree that freshmen aren’t as immature as they seem. Kolbi Davis, a sophomore said “To some extent freshmen are immature. But, many freshmen also have experienced a lot of things that make them more mature than the next.”
The ‘stereotypical’ freshman, according to the majority of upperclassmen, are loud, annoying, lost, and all around just painted like a person you’d rather not be around. But, just as any other person in the school, and even your school, freshmen have varying personalities and none are the same. Though many upperclassmen have described freshmen as annoying, academically incapable, unserious, and etc, but is that really the case? Or are upperclassmen just trying to find another group of people to pick on?
