Have you ever walked by someone in the hallway with a full-grown beard and car keys and wondered, how old are they?

Or have you ever walked by a group in the hallway who, rowdy and loud, were taking up the whole hallway and wondered, do they even go to class?

A few of those questions, and many like them, are circulating among the Class of 2029 as they near the end of their first month of high school. We asked freshmen what their thoughts are on upperclassmen and upperclassmen what theirs are on the new freshmen.

Common stereotypes of upperclassmen often include looking older than most, having high levels of maturity, and experiencing academic stress, AKA ‘senioritis.’ Common stereotypes of underclassmen, on the other hand, are the exact opposite, with being immature, loud and “annoying” at the root.

“I know some of the sophomores just from baseball. I don’t know any of the freshmen. They’ve been fairly calm so far, and I hope it stays that way,” said senior James Barrow.

It’s clear that perceptions of underclassmen are often oversimplified and inaccurate. But, according to local Fuquay-Varina students, that’s not always the case.

Senior Tavares Robinson said, “It’s just something I’ve noticed [in the hallways]. Some are childish.”

While Robinson used the word “childish,” lightly not harmfully, it’s important to recognize that it can be offensive and can make others question their personalities or even their appearances.

Senior Hayden Stanley said, “In the hallways, they blast their phones, really loud.”

Becoming a freshman isn’t as easy as it sounds. Despite the mixed reviews from upperclassmen, many freshmen are doing their best to adapt to the new environment and find their place in the school’s social ecosystem. Most are moving away from their friends and are forced to face a new beginning: new teachers, new campus and new faces. The transition is huge, so it’s important that everyone welcome freshmen with open arms.