He is experiencing the top dog phenomenon. It is something that a student experiences when he makes the change from either middle school to high school or from high school to college. When you were in the 8th grade you were a 'top dog' because you were an upper class man. But when you move to be a freshman in high school, you turn out to be the 'under dog' because you are a lower class man. The same will be true when you become a senior in high school and move on to become a freshman in college.
