For many PHS students, their high school experience can be shaped before they even get on campus. Older siblings who previously attended PHS often influence younger siblings’ decisions regarding classes, teachers, and extracurricular activities because of the experiences they had while at PHS.
During course selection, many factors dictate which classes a student will sign up for. Older sibling’s opinions are often of high priority to students.
“You find out which teachers and courses are better and often try to get those based on the advice you get from your siblings,” junior Andrea Boothby said. “It was definitely helpful to have an older sibling. I learned things I wouldn’t have otherwise, like starting Spanish in middle school.”
Senior Karina Patel said she’s gone through most of what her sister will go through, so she will be able to give her advice about teachers and classes.
Although course selections are greatly impacted by siblings, having a sibling can also impact what activities younger siblings choose to do. Often younger siblings will decide what sports to play based upon their siblings’ experiences.
“I started football my freshman year, which I got from my brother,” sophomore Jimmy Lagios said.
The influence that older siblings have often extends beyond athletics.
Boothby said [her older sister] is the reason that she’s in band, and that her sister also influenced her joining the musical.Boothby was a Pink Lady in this years Musical, Grease.
“I’m doing Affinity Mentorship because of my brother,” freshman Piper Stevenson said.
The social lives of students can also be impacted by their siblings that came before them.
“When I was a freshman and my brother was a senior, I knew all of his friends and without him I wouldn’t know many people,” Lagios said.
While there are benefits to having older siblings, there can also be downsides.
“I definitely feel pressure from teachers to live up to my older sister, since almost every teacher knows me through her,” Boothby said.
Parents may also put additional pressure on their children based on their siblings.
“I basically take the same classes as my sister because of my parents,” sophomore Max Fujimoto said.
“Kids definitely take the same classes as their siblings. Piedmont has this weird thing where no matter how well you’re doing, you don’t feel like you’re doing as good as someone else,” counselor Chris Hartford said.
Social studies teacher Allison Cota said that many teachers try their best not to compare their students to their siblings.
“As a person who had two children of my own, only 17 months apart, who are very different, people can be frustrated when compared to their siblings, I try to form an identity for individuals, not based on who their siblings are,” Cota said.
However, some students believe teachers do have biases based on their siblings.
Freshman Ben Kappes said he thinks people compare his younger brother to himself.
“I tell my brother how to act in certain classes based on the teacher,” Kappes said.
Sophomore Kyla Williams said she hopes teachers don’t expect her to be the same as her sister.
“My sister is definitely smarter in the English department, and I’m not, so when it comes to English stuff, teachers expect more from me,” Williams said.
