A Whole New World

Filled with excitement and a little bit of nerves, the class of 2020 has left the dreary halls of Southwest Middle School and is now attending Albert Lea High School.

“At first I was kind of scared of coming here because of the seniors and such.” Confessed Samantha Skarstad, one of the many eighth graders who have joined the high school this year.

Participating in the Link Crew at the end of the summer along with being involved in sports, music, and 4H has helped Skarstad become comfortable with the high school and its older students.

Link Crew has also helped eighth grader Connor Veldman become accustomed to the halls of ALHS. He really enjoyed the tour and found that the high school has become easier to navigate because of it.

Like Skarstad, Veldman is also involved in sports and music, he believes they have helped him get to know the other students.

Veldman was most excited to be with older people, but was a little apprehensive about the amount of people there were. He has enjoyed his time here so far and says his favorite part about the high school is band. Skarstad however really enjoys the chairs.

Being the youngest group at any school can make some feel as though they need to “grow up” or “act more mature” to fit in with the older crowd.

Senior Carson McGivern felt she needed to act more grown up in order to fit in with her older brother’s friends four years ago when she began her high school days.

Fellow senior, Abe Peterson felt this pressure affected a majority of his class, but it was for the best that his classmates grew up a little as they were the first group of eighth graders to attend ALHS.

Skarstad and Veldman do not personally feel this pressure, but have both noted seeing changes in the behavior of their peers.

“I can laugh and giggle with my friends, and I’ll see them [the seniors] doing the same thing.” Skarstad noted.

However, they have both noticed more acceptable hallway etiquette being observed by some of their formerly rowdy classmates, which is a positive change for all students involved.

While McGivern doesn’t have much contact with this year’s eighth graders on a daily basis, as a Link Leader, she has noted that half seem to be ready to be at the high school, whereas the other half seem to be stuck in middle school.

“They think they need to be more mature than they are,” McGivern observed. “and then with them acting more mature, they’re actually acting more immature.”

Peterson knows some of the younger kids through cross country, “they’re all good kids and they should all have a chance.” he noted.

Both seniors agree that every grade has its rowdy kids and its quiet kids, and all should be respected and helped. So remember, be helpful to the younger students at this school; they’re here to learn just like everyone else.