Pecking Order

Hierarchies are of utmost importance in Japan and therefore respect must always be shown to our elders. When I was in high school, upperclassmen took advantage of their hierarchical position and regularly hazed freshmen. Once I fell victim to such bullying when a few seniors hid my bags and laughed when I frenetically searched for them. Sometimes these seniors prevented us from even drinking water from the fountains! We wanted to fight back, but fearing reprisal, my fellow classmates and I avoided them as much as possible. The juniors were of no help, as they fawned over the seniors to gain status by association. It was a really dark time for me. I loved to grumble about seniors with my friends in the park near my school after band practice.

Pecking Order

Pecking order is very important in Japan. We have to show <s>some</s> respect to senior people. When I was a high school student, senior students, taking advantage of their position, <s>were</s> played <s>a</s> dirty tricks on newbies. I was a member of brass band club. My seniors hid my bags and laughed at me while I was flustered <s>flustering</s>. Sometimes they did not even let us drink water. We wanted to <s>put up a </s>fight against them. But, I do not want to get other bullying, so I flew under the radar. (what are you trying to say here?) <s>As it turns out,</s> this hazing is actually just bullying, and it must not be forgiven. Fortunately, we stuck it out. They wrapped juniors around their little fingers. It was a really dark time for me. I loved to grumble about senior students with my fellow classmates in the park near my school after we finished practice.

<em>We have to show some respect to senior people.</em>

If this means to older people, like grandparents, then I would use "social rank" rather than "pecking order" -- the latter is too informal, in my opinion.