Krystal Wayne is writing a new column about how it feels to be a senior about to graduate. Feel free to tell us your own reflections by writing a letter to the editor.

However, the most disappointing thing I encounter is my fellow seniors’ low maturity and emotional IQ.  I am severely disappointed to see that Granite’s seniors, the future of our country and of Porterville, soon to be adults, still find humor in demoralizing and humiliating other human beings. 

The evasive saying “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” No longer applies.  Many a time I’ve been forced to observe malicious and conniving behavior from seniors that draws tears from a fellow human being.  It is not obvious that the teased have feelings too.

I chose to get to the root of the problem, to scour behavior and actions until an acceptable and intellectual reason is found to support this atrocious behavior.  Unfortunately, I never found such an answer.  Many students sit in the lime light simply because they are different.  Different medically, socially, fashionably, or maybe they just seem to hail from a different town.  They were just raised against the “norms” of present day society.  So students pin point them out, humiliate them, and break them down.  Such behavior is the most degrading and grieving thing a person can endure and witness. 

What disappoints me even more is that soon these “people” will graduate, move away, and start their own lives. “Are they capable of that?” is my question.  Seeing as how the maturity level of such a person must be distressingly low, I pity their future.  I pity a person who makes their high school living a charade of laughter at the expense of demoralizing those weaker than them. 

Is it funny to bring tears of pain and abandonment to a fellow being’s eyes? Is it funny to break down someone?  is it funny to drive someone into a chemical depression? Is it hilarious and exhilarating to drive someone into a world of renowned news updates on school shootings?  Constant teasing and an heir of nonchalant, malicious, and foolish, behavior from peers drives different students to such things.

A great psychologist by the name of Maslow once broke down the necessary things that humans need to survive into a series of steps.  It is called Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.  This Hierarchy was displayed in a pyramid.  The lowest level is the first necessary thing, without the proceeding need met, a human could not continue to the other steps.  The first level is physiological needs.  This level includes food, water, breathing, sleep, sex and excretion.  Almost all humans meet this first level, so, almost all continue to the second level.  The second level is that of safety: safe living environment, safety for one’s health, morality and employment.  Many humans meet this level.  Unfortunately, some peers fear coming to school.  They do not feel safe in this educational environment.  Why? Because some students are pushed around, made fun of, ostracized, and some even have objects thrown at them.  Would you feel safe in such a crude environment? Must I remind our seniors (and others) that this is not Darwinism, this is HIGH SCHOOL!

The last level of Maslow’s Hierarchy is the stage in which all the problems are occurring.  The third level is that of love and belonging.  This includes the loves of family, the sense of belonging that one receives from friends, and sexual intimacy (love and belonging combined). So, teasers, take this information to heart.  When one is teased they lose their ability to obtain love and belonging. If one is unable to complete this level, it means they are also incapable of proceeding to the next two levels.  Level four: self-esteem.  Level five: self-actualization. 

I highly doubt that many of those who make it harder to attend high school realize that their teasing could destroy a student’s entire life; making them a long term victim of socialization.  Do you realize that seniors?

Mainly, I hope it is known, I do not care whether a senior is popular, nerdy, a jock, or an outcast.  No matter where the words come from they hurt the same.  So, being a senior, I am disappointed in the attitudes of my fellow students.  I am disappointed in how wrong they are, how oblivious, how immature, and how morally and emotionally inept they are.