By Christine Garcia
It was supposed to be the loudest, most spirited event of the semester: the bowl was colorful with blue and gold oceans, the music echoing throughout and the front rows were bright with painted faces and balloons. However, tucked away in the very far back, the energy faded. In the midnight zone, students are slouched on their phones and ignoring the assembly, as if they aren’t getting enough screen time. To these students, the rally is another scheduled event to sit through until the final bell, as opposed to a celebration of our school.
As I sat in the middle, I couldn’t help but wonder whether students still show school spirit. I understand that high school is just a blip in our lives, but moments like these—pep rallies, spirit weeks and dances—are what we’ll remember. They’re cringy, loud and sometimes awkward, but they’re ours, and they won’t last forever. Deep down, I think most of us want to feel like we belong somewhere. We want to be swept up in a moment that connects us all, screaming a school chant that will be forgotten after you graduate.
Cheering at a rally or a sports event even if you’re not on the team might remind someone out there that they’re seen and that their hard work is being recognized—especially ASB, Dance Team, Pep Squad, Fountain Valley Royal Regiment and athletes, who give their free time to practice and perform in front of the entire school.
It is easier to say “I’m too nonchalant for this” or “they’re trying too much” than to risk being the one who cheers too loud. Being anxious about how you’ll look in front of your peers is just worshipping other people’s judgment. Your silence will not spare you from the cruel and mean words that other people say about you; it is your character that will speak for itself.
We should dress up for spirit days, even if your outfit is “goofy” and no one else is doing it. For instance, I felt liberated from the shackles of anxiety after I dressed as George Washington to school for extra credit—wig and all. It was a great conversation starter and I think I made some people’s day. I found myself locking eyes with strangers in the hallways and laughing at their reactions.
Dressing up for spirit weeks may not change the world, but it might change your day. It might give someone else the courage to do the same or it may spark a conversation with someone you never talk to.
Stop sitting on the sidelines of your own life. School spirit isn’t about being “try-hard,” it’s about choosing connections and being present. High school may be exhausting and awkward but it only happens once. We can either sit back and let it pass or we can lean onto it and make it matter.
So let yourself wear a silly outfit or shout so loud that even your voice cracks; live fully, not fearfully. Because I’ve learned the more that we lean into the moments that seem small, the more that we create life. There’s nothing nonchalant when it comes to having fun.
