You walk through the hallways with your AirPods in, blasting music as you attempt to reorient your thoughts after a difficult lesson. As your eyes are constantly glued to the lyrics on your phone, you don’t notice your teacher working hard to grade dozens of tests while simultaneously preparing the lesson for their next class. Their work fades into the background, becoming invisible. Frustration takes over and the perception of everything the school does right becomes overpowered by the sentiment of inconvenience.

Instead of acknowledging the hours of daily work that Stevenson’s operations and staff have put into making our school clean and safe for us to spend our days at, with one rare slip-up, students often fixate on rare moments where something goes wrong. This tendency does not solely define our high school experience. It shapes how students act as alumni. Post-graduation, those same students are faced with a question: what should they owe to the school that shaped the person they would become over the past four years?

Stevenson graduates don’t need to demonstrate blind loyalty to their alma mater by constantly promoting and glamorizing their own high school experience. But when considering the environment, support, and opportunities that Stevenson has provided over four years, alumni should give something simpler: respect.

Since their high school experience shapes a large part of their future, most alumni believe they are obligated to look back and consider giving back to the community. In a study done at Grand Valley State University, interviewed alumni in general reported they believed they received something of value from their alma mater which created a desire to give back to the institution. 

For most schools, previous alumni have contributed by establishing scholarship programs, contributing feedback, and building networks. This is something most current students don’t recognize. The systems that have been established over the years, such as Jalen Brunson’s Second Round Foundation, have pledged $300,000 in establishing the Patriot Wellness Initiative at Stevenson High School and to continue supporting more than 300 low-income families within the community. 

According to Western Washington University, high alumni engagement not only supports the students currently enrolled at their alma mater but also supports alumni self esteem by providing them with a greater sense of pride. This finding highlights how having a strong relationship between alumni and the current community can benefit both parties and alumni should strongly consider remaining involved. Therefore, Stevenson and alumni would ultimately both benefit through any degree of alumni contributions.

However, not every Stevenson alum will be interested in or have the time to participate in the previously listed programs. The typical goal of a high school is to provide students with a quality education in order to guide them to a successful future. Therefore, if an alumni isn’t able to devote their time and effort into supporting Stevenson, that perspective is completely valid. But regardless, students must, at a minimum, show respect to our school that has worked tirelessly to ensure we have a positive four years of high school. 

In the hallways, we hear students mentioning minor inconveniences such as a slight increase in Jazzman’s prices. Yet we don’t hear appreciation for teachers that dedicate hours of preparation to each lesson to ensure a rigorous curriculum so that we can learn the skills we need for future success.

We believe that, due to the majority of student-to-student conversations regarding shortcomings of Stevenson, select students at our school may be experiencing a psychological tendency known as “negativity bias.” According to a study by PubMed, while positive interactions may aid in reducing prejudice, negative interactions have a significantly greater impact on personal opinion. Therefore, when Stevenson students may share negative experiences with others, their ultimate viewpoint towards their school is diminished.

But regardless of viewpoint, respect is an expectation and can be exemplified in multiple ways: words and actions. The first of which is simply by speaking highly of the school once graduation has passed. The second is by outwardly expressing gratitude for the Stevenson administration and faculty through proactive actions. 

Pure gratitude as a characteristic for students to develop also proves to be advantageous in future endeavors. According to another study published in PubMed, since gratitude and respect help foster cooperation and social respect, it helps build the relationships and reputation needed for future success, proving to be beneficial in future academic and personal growth. Therefore, it is the responsibility of alumni to exhibit gratitude, so that a stronger and more successful community can be created.

Despite this, within Stevenson, alumni seem minimally involved, a factor that contributes to the disconnected culture and low school spirit. For example, Stevenson’s former winter dance, known formally as “Winterfest” was turned into “Patriot Palooza” following last year’s low turnout. Instead of a dance, the event was turned into a more casual event for students to attend. This undermines the deep community that students have with the school and faculty have worked hard to establish. 

The level of attendance at school-wide events reflects more than just school spirit; it reflects the connection that current students feel to our community. If students decide not to go to events, therefore propelling a less meaningful high school experience, they will be less inclined to participate in creating a stronger community for future students. When alumni show respect to the school and system that has supported them, it helps fuel pride and engagement. 

Stevenson isn’t just trying to provide an enriching academic experience; they are actively working to promote a connection between students and the school. By valuing it, alumni can help promote a more connected community, where each student can feel seen and heard. Respect and gratitude provide the opportunity to shape how communities value the high school experience as a whole.