Graduating high school is a huge milestone in most people’s life. This is the beginning of the next phase of life for many, so enjoy they should senior year while it lasts. They’re the top of the food chain now, so they deserve the privileges underclassmen don’t get; Getting out of school five minutes before dismissal, a senior court yard, and if they have enough credits they can leave school after 2-3 blocks instead of the whole four.
With all these privileges as a senior, school must feel like an easier and calmer place, not if underclassmen ruin it for the seniors. Underclassmen are known for doing these things to seem “cool”.
Last year the senior courtyard was strictly for seniors only, hint at the name, senior courtyard. But underclassmen constantly went out there, constantly invading their sacred space and ignoring this treasured privilege. During the senior meeting at the beginning of the school year, the seniors were informed of the change of courtyard rules by Principal, Chelsea Tryon. It was no longer the senior courtyard, and was now a courtyard for all the classes. Instantly moans, booing, groaning, and sighs of disbelief were let out by the senior student body.
This is unfair for the seniors. The school took away one of the two privileges they have. Every year seniors get designated privileges, from pink senior school spirit shirts, and they have always had the courtyard. This year those two things were changed, altering the excitement towards senior year. The underclasses should be appreciative of this action by the school.
When asked what he would change about senior privileges, junior Colin Robison said, “Give the courtyard back to the seniors.” That is an immense statement coming from a junior. You would think as an underclassman people will be thrilled to have courtyard privileges. Last year underclassmen took all of the tables in the courtyard. They were loud and obnoxious, and they didn’t clean up their trash. Even after being told on the P.A. system daily by Mrs. Tryon to stay out the courtyard, they chose to ignore her and do as they please and sit in the senior courtyard.
I guess Mrs. Tryon was tired of reminding them and gave up, falling in the underclassman’s favor.
Everyday Mrs. Tryon comes on the P.A. system and gives morning and afternoon announcements. In the afternoon she always ends with “Seniors, you are now dismissed.”
Seniors are dismissed early at 1:55 p.m., but Mrs. Tryon doesn’t get on the P.A. system until 1:55 p.m., resulting in the seniors leaving only a maximum of three minutes early instead of five.
It takes three minutes to get to the parking lot, and what if someone needed to drop off something to their English teacher, or needed to be at work at 2:30 p.m.? Those minutes add up quickly, resulting in being stuck behind the buses, leaving students stuck in the parking lot for up to 25 minutes.
That’s not fair for seniors. When asked what he would change about senior privileges, Senior Kavan Hunzburger stated that “It bothers me when we go a couple minutes past 1:55 pm with the announcements. I would like to be let out right at 1:55 pm.” There are roughly 2,300 students that attend this school. Letting seniors out 5 minutes early will help with the flow of hallway traffic. This will help with student drivers rushing to their cars, speeding out the parking lot trying to beat traffic.
Mrs. Tryon also stated at the beginning of the school year that “If underclassmen continue to leave with the seniors at 1:55pm, then there will no longer be senior dismissal at 1:55, and they will be required to leave at 2:00pm with the rest of the school.” Underclassmen seem to be the main reason for most, if not all of these problems. Senior year is the last time you will see most of these people you grew up with. You should want to enjoy these moments while they last.
Senior year shouldn’t be negatively affected because of the poor choices underclassmen make. When asked how she feels about senior privileges, junior, Taryn Minor said “It gives seniors something to look up to in the future.”
Underclassmen should be more considerate of senior privileges even though they are not seniors. If they ruin it for seniors now, they will not have it for themselves in the future.
