Homecoming week: a time of welcomed chaos and intense school spirit, it is an exciting tradition that happens every year at almost every high school. The dance is broadcast to children in the coming-of-age movies they binge, often becoming an event they look forward to. It is an integral part of our school, promoting belonging and school spirit.
One goal of the faculty at North is making students feel like they belong. Belonging is often pushed through joining clubs, which not everyone is able to do. A smaller commitment which still promotes belonging is Homecoming. Homecoming week has multiple aspects that make students feel like they belong such as spirit days, collaborative events and the dance itself. The spirit days allow students to express themselves creatively in a way they may not usually feel comfortable doing. Last year multiple students painted their bodies to match different school themes. This is something that will not happen in a regular school week, but is fun and Homecoming week allows. The collaborative events such as volleyball and small games are incredibly entertaining. They also create a bonding experience for classes of students, which rarely happens. For example, there are so many differences between every student in the junior class, but when a student representing them is sprinting in a relay race, the juniors all unite to cheer for their frontman.
This same logic applies to the Homecoming football game. Not everyone can make it to every football game, but the homecoming game typically sees a more packed student section. The North Stars unite to cheer against our opponent, giving them a united space in which to belong. Homecoming is special to a lot of students because of its rarity, only coming once a year. It encourages students to go all out in their school spirit. The students who go all out to show their school spirit make other students feel comfortable enough to even attempt the themes, which I believe is an incredibly sweet sentiment. Students working to make other students comfortable to express themselves.
Another benefit to Homecoming is the romantic opportunity it gives students. Specifically this year there has been an influx of “HoCo proposals,” a trend where one student makes a poster or buys flowers or something alike to express their romantic interest in another student, asking them to go to the dance with them. This is a sweet way for students to express their feelings and make each other feel more included in the homecoming festivities. Homecoming proposals have even extended to friend groups, creating sweet memories between students.
Even if you aren’t going to Homecoming with a romantic partner, Homecoming groups are common. It’s not often as teenagers we are allowed to dress up in formal clothes and go out for a nice dinner, so Homecoming offers a change of pace. Homecoming spices up a regular student’s life by just giving them something to be excited for. School can get repetitive, especially at this time of year, so Homecoming is an exciting start to the year.
Whether you are dripped head-to-toe in school spirit every day of homecoming week or simply attending the dance, it is still a necessary part of the true teenage experience. Homecoming week gets students one step closer to being like the movies. Happy Homecoming!
