Living up to the stereotype

May 22, 2009 • written by Signe Swanson, 09-10 Photography Editor  
Filed under Opinion

         It’s the end of the school year and I am relieved to say my sophomore year is coming to an end. If I were to review my year, I would say it wasn’t as bad as others had told me it was going to be.

        Being a sophomore, I was expecting the upperclassmen to continuously emphasize the rule of seniority (my gullibility does not exactly do the sophomore reputation any justice). No, I didn’t believe in the old cliché of seniors shoving underclassmen into lockers, but I was expecting to receive constant glares and perhaps a bit of taunting. Fortunately, this stereotype turned out to be false.

        I’ve never heard any senior or junior call me out in public. However, I have come across a few of their discussions, which were exchanges of complaints about sophomores. When I would listen to them complain about sophomores’ immature behavior, their tendency to clog the hallways, and their unnecessary public display of affection (that means “making out” in fancy talk) I would often find the urge to join the conversation. I usually do end up entering their conversation eventually, but never to defend my class.

         I would often agree with them. Never have I come across a class more annoying, malicious and hopeless than the class of 2011. I have the greatest misfortune of being a part of this class, and because of it, the more diligent sophomores and I suffer stereotyping. Often we are grouped with the less ambitious sophomores, who sadly make up the majority.­

        What bothers me most is that people have it in their head that it is a “sophomore thing”. The problem lies with the class of 2011, not sophomores in general.  It seems like students believe once a sophomore becomes a junior, they suddenly become mature.  Really, it’s not like the moment they become juniors they reach some sort of enlightenment and vow to change their ways for the better.

        I can assure you, these sophomores will not mature, change their ways or accomplish any goals (at least not goals that are of any importance) within the span of three months or in life for that matter.

        Next fall, the ones you complain about now will be just as aggravating, even if they are juniors.