If last Friday’s football game was an indication of anything, it’s obvious our school is completely lacking in spirit. We don’t attend school dances, we don’t dress up for spirit days and we don’t participate enough in rallies. Simply put: being spirited isn’t cool to us anymore. 

School spirit is how we connect and support one another. Without it, our community lacks “unity.” Something needs to change, and the responsibility falls upon us all to make that happen. 

Who is to blame?

We students are. It’s tempting to blame ASB, but ASB alone cannot carry school spirit. Their effort is obvious: promotion videos, rollerskating at the Back-to-School Dance and class color changes were in response to our lack of spirit. These efforts were met with complaints from the student body. Students were heard complaining that “nobody’s dressing out.” It’s not hard to figure out who needs to fix that problem.

Regardless of your opinions on these changes, complaining will not fix the issue. ASB needs feedback. Students have the ability to tell them what changes can be meaningful. 

ASB needs student feedback when it comes to major changes, like changing the class colors. Such matters that affect the whole school require input from the student body. Students need to voice their opinions constructively, whether through a school vote or text to a friend on ASB. 

Class colors

“Where’s your royal blue?” a student asked their classmate on the way to the main gym for the Back-to-School Rally. She points to her denim shorts, “It’s the only blue I have.”

This year, ASB introduced new class colors: light blue, royal blue, gray and white. Their intent was to promote a united front based on school colors. But students took it in the opposite direction, complaining instead of finding a solution. Instead of wearing light-washed jeans and calling it a day, go to the store. Borrow something. Get crafty.

While grey and white are significantly less vibrant than previous years’ colors, it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t dress in them. Changing back our class colors won’t fix the underlying issue: dressing up can be fun if you make it fun. 

Upperclassmen, lock in.

As the oldest and most experienced students, you are supposed to decide what is cool — don’t listen to anyone who tells you otherwise. We are role models for the school, and the underclassmen will follow our example. After all, who was the most spirited in our freshman year?

In your last years of high school, attend every sports game you can, wear a wig and paint your whole body blue for spirit days, leave high school with a legacy you can be proud of.   

The problem with school dances

School dances are a physical representation of spirit, so it’s no wonder our’s are vacant. Every single year, students complain about the DJ being bad, but there will always be someone who doesn’t like the music. The theme is bad, but who really remembers the theme the next year? Having a bad date — okay, that one is legitimate. 

Instead of dwelling on what you dislike, rejoice in what you do. Dance to every song. Complain all you want, but school dances are only as fun as you make them.

So, what can we do?

Being spirited is only embarrassing if we let it be. We get to decide that it’s cool to proudly wear our grey and royal blue, to deck out for every home football game. 

This year, pick 6 to 7 friends and choose two events to attend together. Go all out on dressing up! You’re only in high school once. 

Let’s reclaim our pride in being an Eagle! CAWCAW!