Every year as a new class comes to WHS, some members in the upper classes find themselves running into familiar faces they see at home every day; their younger siblings have entered the building. Although being in the same school with a sibling has the benefit of a shared experience, it can also pose challenges for younger siblings who may struggle to establish their individual identity.
Having an older sibling who has already experienced high school can provide freshmen with helpful and honest advice prior to the school year starting.
“I told my brother about the teachers he had, what the classes were like, and what to expect,” senior Riley Huml said, sister of freshman Gannon Huml. “I also told him basic knowledge such as unspoken rules.”
These “rules” may not be official school guidelines, but there are various expectations for the incoming first years that many feel are important to pass down.
“I told my brother about where the freshman section was in both the cafeteria and also for football games when they stand at the top of the bleachers,” said senior Aidan Murphy, brother of freshman Cole Murphy.
The rules are just the beginning of the adjustments, as coming to a new school means meeting people you may have not previously known. It can be comforting to have a familiar face as young students adjust to a new atmosphere.
“If I ever need help, I can always find him since we are in the same school now,” said freshman Alyssa Nie about her brother, senior Chris Nie. “He helps me make the right choices and not regret what I do later.”
While some don’t see their siblings in school often, others cross paths more frequently, both in and out of school.
“He’s on the golf team with me and we have a few frees that have lined up which has been fun” senior Matteo Harris said about his freshman brother Max Harris.
Despite the helpful nature of having an older sibling, sometimes it can be difficult for the younger sibling to separate themselves from the older.
“A lot of my teachers know me because of my sister because she’s a really good student,” sophomore Jojo Bangalie said about his senior sister Flo Bangalie. “It doesn’t annoy me, but it just kind of happens.”
Some see this as a positive factor because an older sibling’s performance could impact expectations of the younger kid.
“[Chris] is really smart, so I don’t mind having a reputation for being smart too,” Alyssa Nie said.
This is not just a theory, but the benefits of having siblings, specifically older, have actually been proven to increase their younger siblings’ performance in school.
According to the Institute for Social and Economic Research, “The achievements of big brothers and older sisters may have a direct effect on the younger sibling’s school grades if the older one teaches the younger one or helps with homework; the younger one imitates the older one, for example in their work style, or conversely tries to be different, for example to avoid competition.”
For most teachers dealing with a sibling of a former student, it’s important to recognize the sibling connections while still treating each student as an individual.
“On one hand, it can be really great because it’s a point of connection,” said history department head Kimberly Young. “On the other hand, I don’t want any sibling to feel pressure to be like [their older sibling] or be similar because each is unique and different.”
Teachers often find that acknowledging sibling ties can help to build meaningful relationships with the families as they are interacting with them over the years.
“It’s really fun to have siblings because you get to know the families better just by having multiple of their children,” said history teacher Deborah McLoughlin.
Having knowledge about their families is also helpful in looking at the students in a broader context and their lives outside of school.
“Even though everybody’s got their own personalities and quirks, knowing where they come from and what kind of support they’re getting [at home] can be really useful,” said English teacher Henry Moon.
For senior and freshmen sibling pairs, even though they may not share classes or activities, it can still be meaningful to have time in the same school before the older sibling graduates.
“We don’t have any classes together, and we’re not really involved in the same things because she does hockey and I do crew, so we don’t overlap that much,” said senior Thanai Papageorgiou about her freshman sister Ari Papegorgiou. “However, I hope she’ll join my club.”
The presence of siblings can influence students’ experience at school, from the bonds they form to the challenges they face.
“Generally, they [siblings] do benefit from going to the same school because even though their experiences are going to be individualized, knowing obstacles and challenges along the way and being able to see them coming is hugely advantageous,” Moon said.
