Taking the next step in life is always tough for most people. Some are eager and excited to try out the new things that lie ahead. Others are anxious and worried about taking that step. One may even feel all types of these feelings. It's my goal to explore the culture that is of those taking the next step. I will specifically compare freshmen. It will be interesting to see how freshmen entering high school compare to freshmen starting their college careers. I have a brother who is starting his freshman year here at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and a cousin (also male) who is beginning his high school career in Osmond, Nebraska. Both students are going to be amazing sources for this project.
Both steps (high school and college) are there to prepare the mind of the individual for a career down the road. I remember both steps in my life, but it has been so long I don't feel I could do the culture proper justice. I know how hard these steps are, and I'm looking to my next step of graduating college in December, finding a job and getting married in May.
There are certainly different types of communication with both of the cultures I plan to study. Verbal and nonverbal clues tell exactly how certain people adapt to the new situation of moving up in school. In this sense, moving up also means moving back down. The freshmen are technically on the bottom (no other way of putting it). This project would be great information for those taking the new step because it will take first-hand experience of those who are freshmen (in both senses) and possibly of those who were at one time. Some students handle the change great and continue on with success. Others have influences or plain can't handle the amount of change in his or her life.
I think the comparison will be dramatically different between the two subjects. Going to college, some won't know anyone in classes whereas a high school freshman may already have friends before moving up. I feel that this is definitely a culture and that there are studies of stuff like this being done by professionals and psychologists.
This project is fluid, and I'm open to hear of any ideas you may have.
