Footsteps, lockers closing, people laughing, people complaining -the typical overture of a high school morning. Yet Monday at Valparaiso High School kicked off a rather special week that rolls around once every year: Homecoming Spirit Week. Most people can recall these weeks all too well. The panic before the big dance, the rush to find "perfect date", the roar of the crowd at the football game, and most of all, "Who will be Homecoming Queen?"
All in all, it is a time honored America tradition that happily contributes to the universal tale of the high school experience, and teen angst at its finest.
While many people have seen the movies portraying Homecoming as a rite of passage, often following the cliché high school saga of the Homecoming Court; filled with nominations of the "popular crowd", and an amicable underdog who ends up winning after many challenges. I am glad to announce though, that Valparaiso high school is above conforming to stereotypes; this year especially, with one of the best and most deserving set of nominees I've ever seen.
The court is comprised of six senior girls, nominated by a vote of the entire senior class, and the winner is decided upon by a school-wide vote. Having a sister who is eight, and who has made comments hoping to perhaps one day be nominated when she is in high school, I can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that these six outstanding girls may serve as her role models in high school. The nominees this year are Seniors Greer Brown, Angela Darryl, Alexandra Scheidler, Maria Yallourakis, Kathy Minko, and Kelli Keough. These nominees sublimely illustrate what it’s like to be a model student and human being over all, each is well known for their habits of going out of their way to make others smile and their penchant for serving their school and community.
Valpo's spirit weeks are always interesting, with the daily themes being picked out by the always inventive cheer squad, student support is obvious and is visible in full force and clever ways. This year’s themes were Monday: Collegiate Apparel day; Tuesday: Class Color Day, Wednesday: Western Day, Thursday: Patriotic Day, and Friday: Green and White day in support of the Vikes. Valpo's pride has been going strong all week with the students coming out in full force to show their spirit by participating this week.
But what is Homecoming about exactly? Is it the thrill of the watching your team play under the glow of the floodlights? The Homecoming Court and who will walk away with the crown? Being able to dress up with all your friends to show your school pride? Or even that special dance with that one person on Saturday? There is no right answer, and I suppose that's what makes Homecoming special, in today's world where the generation gap seems wider than ever one thing hasn't changed: Homecoming. It is universal because whether you wanted to or not, if you went to a high school within the last century this was something you experienced. It is something you will leave the school remembering. Homecoming has the unique ability to somehow bring out a sense of community within the walls of the high school that break down social castes, class rankings, etc. It reminds us all that in the four years we spend in this building, we are all united in a sense of pride for our school and sense we are here we might as well enjoy it.
Spirit week will always hold some of my fondest high school memories for me and I will have to say that I'm going to miss it when I leave next year. No matter what your favorite memory or current favorite thing about this week is, or has been we Valparasoins can stand up tall and raise our heads in confidence as we cheer on our team and watch the winning girl be crowned Friday night. Happy Homecoming. Go Vikings!