As a lover of all things tacky, I have always dreamed IHS could have every bell and whistle of school spirit. A full marching band, senior traditions, and a mascot to rival the Corning Hawk and Horseheads Horsehead are only a part of my master plan. Perhaps this is quite a peculiar dream of mine, but those who disagree probably didn’t witness the football team finally win a home game this year.
As the winter months drag on, it gets harder and harder to be excited about school. There are barely any opportunities to come together as a class, and we don’t even eat lunch in the same place. School-sponsored events can help cultivate a feeling of connection, regardless of the challenges posed by our class sizes. But nobody goes to any kind of smaller-scale event. If it’s not Prom or the Homecoming Game, it’s hard to make anyone care. Still, funds and engagement from these smaller events are instrumental in the success of more fun events, like Prom or Pep Rallies.
When trying to increase participation in school spirit, we should focus on what works. Dressing up for game day with your sports team, which is often mandatory, is one of the most frequent kinds of spirit at IHS. Before games, the team agrees on a theme, sharing clothes and ideas to best show their spirit. Other groups, like orchestra and band, also do this, but their concerts are much less frequent than games. These concerts are also huge displays of spirit, and a great example of how caregivers, teachers, and students can come together to support IHS in a fun way.
One of the most important parts of spirit, however, is to make sure everyone feels involved. If you have any ideas or think of ways to show more pride in your favorite thing at IHS, let someone know. Your class officers, your counselor, or an administrator can help you get the materials you need. Despite the cliches, spirit is not just sports, and IHS successes should be celebrated equally.
Supporting IHS and showing your school spirit isn’t going to magically mend IHS, no matter how many times our future marching band plays “Hey Baby.” But it can help create a sense of community that might make school more enjoyable. So, whether your idea of spirit is cheesy like mine, or simply going to one of your class events, take part. It might make high school feel a little bit better.