When freshman Ali Rachell moved from a school of only 313 students in Jefferson City to RBHS, a school of nearly 2,000, without knowing anybody, she was terrified. In Jefferson City, Rachell knew who everybody was and had all her friends whom she had grown up with. Moving to RBHS without knowing one person, she was nervous about not finding friends and not being able to find a group she connected with. At her old school she didn’t have to try to be friends with anyone.
“I was so nervous,” Rachell said. “It was big, really big, and I didn’t know anyone.”
Dan Mcfarland, a professor of education at Standford Graduate School of Education, reports that the school size and opportunities ultimately affects the cliques in high school. High schools that have more electives and more variety of classes to choose from are more likely to be rank ordered, cliquish and segregated by race, age, gender and social status, he said.
“Schools that offer students more choices and more ways to complete requirements often means that there is a bigger range of potential friends,” McFarland said.
When Rachell came to RBHS not knowing anyone, she tried to find a group of friends.
“I didn’t want to have zero friends,” Rachell said, “so I tried to fit in with this group of people that had been in a few of my classes.”
At her old school, Rachell only noticed four stereotypical cliques compared to RBHS, which has infinite cliques because of its size.
“Children who tend to dress, act or otherwise express themselves in similar ways gravitate to each other,” P.C. Broderick P. Blewitt, an author with Pearson Allyn Bacon Prentice Hall publishing company, said. “Together, they form a type of social group that provides some identity to its own members and a basis of comparison to, and for, others. A group’s identity is based on shared activities, values, clothes and behaviors,”
After Rachell had been at RBHS for a few months, she began to finally bond with the group of people she had classes with and feel comfortable in her surroundings. They all had the same interests and wanted the same things as her. She said she fit in perfectly.
“Thinking back to my first day, I’m honestly so happy I put myself out there to my friends that I have now,” Rachell said. “I don’t think I would fit in with any other clique.”
Katharine Mehle, a freshman who had spent her previous school years at a Catholic school, can relate to Rachell. Mehle was starting at RBHS all alone because most of her friends went to Tolton Catholic High School. As anyone could imagine, she was beyond scared.
“It’s the most awkward feeling walking around so many people at your school and not knowing anyone,” Mehle said.
Mehle was determined not to be the quiet, shy girl in her classes anymore. She had been dancing ever since she could remember, so she decided to try out for Bruin Girls, the school dance team. She ended up making the team and having a lot in common with the fellow dancers who had also made it.
“I had never been so happy to finally find people, not only in my grade but also older grades,” Mehle said. “Being able to have older friends in school is really helpful to prepare you for high school.”
Rachell and Mehle had similar problems, both moving to a whole new, not to mention big, school without knowing anyone.
Luckily, RBHS is filled with endless opportunities and courses to take that the girls were able to find their own group of people that got along well and had the same interests.
“I remember how I felt since it really wasn’t that long ago and going into my sophomore year, I wouldn’t want any of the new freshman to feel like I did,” Rachell said. “I think everybody should have their own group of friends they fit into.”