Navigating high school as a freshman can be intimidating. New teachers, peers, and a much larger building can make for a rude awakening during the first week of classes. Daunting as it may seem, for younger siblings with guidance and wisdom from their experienced older siblings, the unknown seems a little more approachable. 

Having a mentor who has walked the path before can provide an invaluable roadmap of what to do as well as what to avoid. Shelby Karr, a freshman with a junior brother, shares, “Since we’re both in high school now, we have more to relate to each other with. He always says ‘hi’ to me in the hallways, which I like. As a freshman, it’s cool to have the upperclassmen say ‘hi’ to me; it makes me feel more confident about myself knowing I have him.”

While an older sibling’s presence can provide comfort and convenience (weekly rides to lunch), in some cases, living up to expectations that have already been set adds pressure to an already stressful transition. 

Reagan Lopez, another freshman with an older sister, confesses, “I felt like since my sister had such good grades, I had to live up to that. She made it seem like a standard to get straight A’s.” Coming into high school with a stronger reputation can help with getting in good with teachers, but the reality of feeling like you have to perform well right off the bat is a constant worry that can consume younger siblings. 

Karr shares a similar viewpoint, “I felt pressure to live up to my brother’s reputation coming into high school. Not only academically, but also in sports. Watching him succeed so much over the years is a lot of pressure as a younger sibling to live up to.”

Despite some anxiety and the natural comparison that occurs between siblings, both Karr and Lopez received crucial advice that has shaped their first year experience into a positive one.

Lopez elaborates, “My sister said be nice to everyone. It matters because you want everyone to be your friend. Focus on your work. She told me what classes to take and what they were like, which was really helpful.” 

Karr confirms that advice from her brother was beneficial. “The advice he gave me before high school was to find a close-knit group of friends and create memories with them all throughout high school. [He said to] just live it up because high school goes by really fast.”

While having someone at high school to look up to is comforting, at some point, younger siblings will have to learn their lessons by themselves as the eldest graduate. Despite how much siblings tease one another and argue, overall, sharing the experience of high school is more fun and exciting together than going through it alone.