Every fall, a new class walks through the doors of the 22 Tappan building to begin the next chapter of their education. But how well are these students finding their place within the high school? As the first quarter comes to a close and students settle into routines, classes and friendships, The Cypress set out to gain insight into whether freshmen are feeling a sense of “social connection” at this point in the school year.
A survey sent by The Cypress via Canvas on Oct. 27th, which 12 percent of the freshmen class completed, indicates that while many freshmen feel a sense of connection at the high school, some students, especially those not on a fall sports team, are struggling to form connections.
Students were asked to compare their sense of social connection in eighth grade to their sense of connection as freshmen using a five-point scale, with five indicating a very strong sense of connection and one indicating a weak or no sense of connection. On average, respondents indicated a slight decrease in connection freshman year compared to eighth grade, with girls experiencing a decrease over two times as great as that of boys.
Freshman Sandy Xu, who is a member of Legislature, said that she feels less connected to her peers this year compared to eighth grade and attributes this to knowing few people coming into the high school.
“It was a bit jarring to suddenly see all of these people I never knew, and it was really hard initially to start making friends,” Xu said. “I felt like a lot of people already knew each other and I felt a little out of place and intimidated.”
The results also indicate that students who participate in an extracurricular activity (defined as a fall sport, club, performing arts program or similar) feel more connected than those who do not. In particular, members of fall sports teams reported the greatest sense of connection, averaging 4.3 out of five, compared to 3.2 for respondents who indicated participation in at least one extracurricular activity but not a fall sport.
Freshman Cooper Wesemann, a member of the boys freshman soccer team, said soccer has helped him form a sense of belonging within the school.
“I don’t know where I’d be without my soccer season,” Wesemann said. “We lose together and win together as a team. It creates bonds on and off the field.”
Thirty-one percent of all survey respondents said that they were worried about making friends at the high school. Xu said that it can be hard to meet new classmates.
“It’s really awkward for me to approach people first, and a lot of other people also don’t want to approach first. So it’s just a back and forth,” Xu said. “I’m trying to take the steps to talk to people first and make conversation, but I still struggle with it.”
Guidance counselor Clifton Jones said that the school uses several methods, including the Panorama survey and progress reports, to measure how well freshmen are adapting to the high school and to identify students who may need extra support.
“There’s always a small number of kids who have trouble, and it’s usually around anxiety and stuff like that. But I think that’s just being in a new place with new teachers outside of your comfort zone,” Jones said. “So in the beginning of the year, we tend to see more kids who are anxious, but by the middle of the year, that kind of goes away.”
Fifteen percent of respondents called for whole-class events prior to and during the fall of freshman year to provide the opportunity to meet more students.
“The high school could have held events during my middle school years where all the Brookline middle schools would go together to the BHS building so I could meet people,” one respondent wrote.
Ultimately, despite the social challenges that some freshmen are facing, there are also many students who have developed friendships and feel connected. Wesemann said that he makes a point of approaching others and keeping an open mind.
“I’ve made some new friends and met some really cool people,” Wesemann said.
Jones encouraged any students who are struggling to reach out to their guidance counselors.
“Don’t feel like you’re bothering your counselor. We will talk about whatever you want to talk about,” Jones said. “Even if you just want to sit in [our] office…it’s a safe space to come and be yourself.”
