Freshmen to senior year encourages a lot of growth, especially in the area of self-esteem and confidence, as it can be seen seniors have figured out who they are, and are comfortable within themselves.

The difference between the way seniors and freshmen carry themselves can be attributed to the way they think about themselves as a person. Seniors agree that when they began their freshman, year they worried about what other people would think of them, and so they put an emphasis on the way they dressed. But as they got older, and understood who they were, they stopped dressing and acting for other people.

“I tried on the first three days. I want people to see that I can dress nice,” said Bridgette Scott (‘21) wearing an olive overcoat and floral t-shirt.

Freshmen value each other’s opinions to the point that they feel as if they aren’t good enough, or they don’t fit in, if they are not approved by their peers. They are left with two options: keep up with everyone else or blend into the background.

“Should I try to do that, or should I not? Depends on how I feel that day, whether I want to be noticed or not,” Scott (‘21) said.

Mr. Duskin, Spanish teacher, observed that upperclassmen have become individuals, independent from their peers, but underclassmen still see themselves as a group and look at everyone else to know what to do.

“Seniors don’t care what others think and freshmen, we do,” said Baker (‘21).

“Care about opinions? Some do, personally I don’t, probably because I’m stubborn,” Eric Ray (‘21) said.

Not only have most seniors accepted themselves, they have also come to realize that their value cannot be measured based on their grades.

“My grades defined me from freshman year until half-way through junior year,” said Jaime Briesch (‘18).

“I try to get A’s, but it doesn’t feel good to get low grades,” said Ray (‘21).

Four years is a long time to learn about oneself, and in the end, students come to find that their own opinion of themselves is worth more than anything any of their peers could say.

“Comparison is the thief of joy,” said Julia Cameron (‘18), quoting Teddy Roosevelt.