“Respect your Elders” and “Respect This,” were the mottos that adorned the 2009 powder puff jerseys. While the slogans are meant to be harmless fun, they form an interesting backdrop upon which the competition between the junior and senior class is played.
Every year around Wildcat Pride Night the clash between the current junior and senior class erupts. Powderpuff can be seen as the kick off for the power struggle that occurs throughout the year.
It seems as though the juniors are fighting to be recognized and respected by the seniors, who they feel sometimes look down on them overlook their position as fellow upperclassmen. It seems as though the seniors are fighting for the respect that they feel they are entitled to as the leaders of the school. There’s nothing out of the ordinary about school rivalry between the classes, but as a school we must be cognizant of the line between competition and contempt.
The conflict between the two classes is always discussed in secluded social circles but is never openly discussed. Though many junior and students hold their own personal opinions on this rivalry, it is looked at as taboo to openly express one’s strong views about the opposing class. Hence, the elephant in the room.
It’s no secret to the staff and the student body that every year there is bound to be a rift between the two classes. It is sort of like a right of passage, incoming seniors become the new leaders ready to lead the way among the school and incoming juniors are striving to prove that they are still a force to be reckoned with.
This has proven to be true in my own experience of being both a junior and a senior. Last year as a junior, whenever it came to competition, I felt like my main goal was to beat the seniors, whether in powder puff or spirit week. When I was a junior, it seemed as though the entire school expected for the seniors to dominate any school competition. Thus, this became my motivation to prove them wrong and to prove that the oldest was not always the best. This year, as a senior, I have an entirely different perspective on my class and our role in the school. I don’t believe that we are automatically entitled to anything but I do believe that the student body sets high expectations for us as the leaders of the school.
Spats between classes have much in common with sibling rivalries. Often times in sibling rivalries, the older sibling feels that they are the oldest so therefore, they know what’s best and have “seniority.” In most cases the younger sibling feels like they have to work twice as hard to prove that their point is valid and should not be taken lightly.
In sibling rivalries, no matter how much they fight at the end of the day they know that they are still siblings and that they still love each other. This should act as an example for how we conduct ourselves in class rivalries. No matter how competitive we become, it’s vital that we remember that we are all apart of one student body, one school, and of one faith.

Cordially,
Christian