Seniority can be defined in two ways. The first is “the fact or state of being older or higher in position or status than someone else.” The second is “a privileged position earned by reason of longer service or higher rank.”
At Powell High School, seniority is a time-old tradition, whether it comes to student sections or busses. Lately, seniority has been a hot topic at PHS within many different groups. Whether to love or to hate it is the question.
“Everyone will get their turn eventually,” junior Hali Hancock said. “Everyone’s gonna have that point where they have seniority, they deserve it. They waited their turn throughout high school to get there… just wait your turn. It sucks whenever you’re younger but you’ll understand when you’re older.”
As a freshman, it can be annoying always being pushed around by the upperclassmen.
“I think it’s pretty dumb, me personally,” freshman Stella Shoopman said. “But also when I become a senior, I’ll probably be one of those seniors that’s like, ‘Seniority.’”
While some challenge seniority, others see it as a well-earned tradition.
“A big thing is the freshmen need to be treated a little better,” junior Troy Cheatham said. “But, seniority definitely should be respected because people have come that far, worked that hard, and deserve some praise.”
Despite the four-year age gap, the social gap between freshmen and seniors may not be as significant as it seems at times.
“I always thought when I was an underclassman that the seniors were like gods and that when I was a senior I’d be treated amazing, but I feel the same as I always have,” senior Maggie Atkinson said. “The seniors get a little bit more respect and they can get away with kind of being rude in student sections or on the bus because they are seniors, but as long as people understand seniority, I don’t think we get treated much differently other than that.”
In high school, the second definition of seniority comes into play with privilege.
“Seniors should get the back of the bus or wherever they want to sit, and should get their own seats first,” Atkinson said. “Everyone else should have to double up first. In the student section, seniors should be in the front because it’s their last year here. They also probably have the most school spirit and know the cheers the best.”
Although seniors may have the most experience, they are often the most fatigued.
“If [upperclassmen] are in the front of the student section I think that they should be more loud and cheering because if you’re gonna be there you have to be there for a good reason,” Hancock said. “Otherwise, the underclassmen who are louder should take your place.”
The debate over whether to embrace or reject the tradition of seniority has many possible answers.
“We’ve paid our dues, four years here,” Atkinson said. “It’s a tradition for a reason and nobody should be abusing that power, being rude, and pushing around freshmen or sophomores just because they want to. Seniors have been here for four years, they have gone through the painfulness of high school, and they should be able to enjoy their last year to the fullest extent.”
