By Zara Syed ’27, Feature Editor

Think about the moment when a student meets a new friend on the first day of school and assumes they are quiet and detached, when in reality they have a sore throat that prevents them from socializing. This is when the prefrontal cortex, responsible for logic, and the amygdala, which facilitates prompt decision-making, are at their most active, forming sometimes unreliable first impressions.

Will Rogers said, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” This quote highlights the power that this physiological phenomenon holds over us. Studies, such as those conducted by the National Library of Medicine, show that forming opinionated first impressions is a survival mechanism. However, in the context of high school, even right here at NA, first impressions can feel like they make or break your high school experience. So, what makes our brains wired to create these groundless first impressions that serve as a survival mechanism to some and social suicide to others?

First impressions evolved as survival instincts in our ancestors. Living in caves with constant threats required determining whether a person or creature was beneficial or harmful in seconds. Since the very beginning of human history, our brains have adapted to do just this. Functional magnetic resonance imaging studies show that within the first few seconds of seeing a new face, the prefrontal cortex and amygdala are activated. Together, these structures process emotions and shape decisions. According to Gravitas Training, the mental image formed is influenced by three main non-verbal cues: body language, facial expressions, and attire. After this initial encounter, additional regions of the brain are triggered depending on how the new face is perceived (intriguing, welcoming, harmful, abrasive, etc.).

It is now understood that first impressions are scientifically valid, but NA’s new Upper School Counselor Ms. Wallerstein emphasizes their broader significance: “I think first impressions are unfairly powerful: our brains are wired to make lightning-fast judgments as a way of keeping us safe. The catch is, those snap impressions can stick, even when they’re incomplete or inaccurate. That’s why I try to remind myself to stay curious and let people surprise me.” Ms. Wallerstein’s perspective is spot-on — first impressions are indeed “unfairly powerful.”

The next time you mistake a new student as quiet and detached when they’re actually just sick, remember it is more than a small misunderstanding—it’s a series of brain reactions leading to a first impression, a phenomenon present since the beginning of time. Here at NA, first impressions often cause quick, misguided judgments. Being patient after forming a first impression is crucial as students navigate high school.