By Miley Otebe and Aalia Akbarali

School is supposed to be more than just classrooms, assignments, and tests. It is also supposed to be a place where students make memories, build friendships, and feel like they are part of something bigger. But at our school, that part of the high school experience can sometimes feel like it is missing.

At IA, there is a lot happening academically. Students have classes, clubs, projects, and plenty of work to keep them busy every week. But when it comes to school spirit and school-wide activities, there can seem to be very little going on. There are few traditions that bring everyone together, and school spirit is something that isn’t commonly brought up.

Zoey Laverne, [11] mentioned how, “students could be more passionate about the things that we have here and if we had more events, students should and would participate. This is something we should definitely bring more to IA.”

School spirit does not necessarily mean having huge school-wide events every week. It can be as simple as spirit weeks, pep rallies, friendly competitions, or traditions that students look forward to every year. These activities give students something to be excited about and create memories that go beyond what happens during the school day.

Another important part of school spirit is having opportunities for students to come together. At many high schools, sports games, performances, rallies, and other events give students a reason to stay and support their classmates. Without those types of events, it can be harder for students to develop a strong sense of community.

When talking to Leah Beach [11], she brought to our attention how, “pep rallies have been canceled the past three years which sucks because that was the one thing I was excited for when going to high school.”

Even without traditional school sports, there are still plenty of ways to create school spirit. Clubs could organize competitions between grades, student organizations could host more school-wide events, and the school could create traditions that students actually look forward to. A spirit week, for example, could include a simple themed week that allow students to participate without requiring a large budget or complicated planning.

Students also deserve a say in what school life looks like. Instead of assuming students are not interested, the school could ask them what kinds of events they would actually attend. A quick student survey could reveal exactly what students want, whether that means more social events, competitions, performances, themed days, or opportunities to celebrate accomplishments.

When asked how their experience with school spirit changed throughout their years of high school, Rafa Ramos [11], said “I think all throughout my years at this school, one thing I really miss is definitely the spirit weeks and how they would uplift people.”

High school only lasts a few years, and students should be able to look back on those years and remember more than tests and deadlines. They should remember the people they met, the events they attended, the traditions they participated in, and the moments when the entire school felt connected.

Our school has the potential to create that kind of environment. It does not necessarily require expensive or excessive events. It starts with making school life something students actually feel a part of.

Right now, school spirit may not be a major part of our school culture. But that does not mean it has to stay that way. If students and teachers work together, our school could become a place where students are not just showing up for class—they are excited to be here.