When I was in middle school, I remember that whenever I saw a high school kid the first thing that always popped into my head was how big they looked. How is it that they’re only in high school? I marveled at how much different they looked than us, their mature faces and typically tall lanky bodies, especially compared to my friends and me at the time.

The difference between high schoolers and middle schoolers is pretty ridiculous. Look at an eighth grader and then look at a senior, and the vast contrast between the physical aspects speaks for itself, not to mention maturity level. Well, maybe the maturity between a 14 year-old boy and an 18 year-old boy isn’t too different.

High School is only four years out of our lives, but the development that takes place during those four years is significant. It’s just strange that there are 14 year-olds and 18 year-olds in the same place because even though they pretty much have nothing to do with each other, it’s still intimidating to the 14 year-olds.

I remember that when I was a freshman, I was absolutely terrified of everyone in the grades above me; they all seemed so much bigger, louder, and not afraid of anything. Looking back on it now, I wonder if I come off that way to the underclassmen now, because to me, my grade doesn’t come close to what I imagined high schoolers were like when I was younger.

Sometimes I look at the freshman and I am astounded by how young they look, especially the boys. I have two younger brothers, a 10 year-old and a 12 year-old, and I often find myself thinking how much the freshman boys look like them, and I am just taken aback by their youthfulness.

The distinction between the freshman and seniors in high school is shocking. The way it used to be was you didn’t enter high school until you were 15, should it be that way again?