School Spirit

....we has it? Oh yes. Oh yes we do. I've only had 5 days of school at Cary High and things are already shaping up to be, well, different. Things like 8 buildings, and strict policies about not leaving campus, and tiny lockers, and really just hundreds of little things. The biggest thing I have noticed that is SOOO different, however, is the level of school spirit. It's incredibly, frighteningly, high. As is class spirit, especially within the senior class. Oh goodness the spirit....

First off- 2 days before school started, there was an "open campus" event where students and their families were invited to come and meet teachers, learn their way around the school, purchase lunch passes, etc. On this day there was a senior table I was sent to. Not only is there a senior class shirt listing all the seniors on the back, but they also handed out crowns that we were instructed to take home, decorate, and wear on the first day.

My Senior Crown

So I arrive on the first day, and it's nuts. Not only are all the speed bumps coming into the parking lot painted green and white, there are signs along the edge proclaiming "seniors 2012!" and "Seniors! Honk your horns!" Thankfully my dad didn't honk. Then the sidewalk was covered with chalk bearing similar messages, as well as our class slogan "It's better by the dozen" Whoo. There was a green and white balloon arch for the seniors to walk under, and someone filming us doing so. People painted their cars with "Senior! 2012!" etc. All for the first day of school. I can understand this kind of thing at the end, when it's graduation time and you're actually leaving school, but at the beginning of the year, not so much. It's just the first day of another year of classes, exams, and drama.

Also, in general school spirit is crazy high. People wear green and white constantly, and are always in Cary High shirts of some variety. The local water tower has "Class of 2012" painted on it. And at the local Rite Aid, you can purchase a plethora of Cary High items, including but not limited to- rain jackets, pajama pants, teddy bears, water bottles, t-shirts, sweatshirts, and gym shorts. At the class meeting, the amount of cheering and school spirited-ness was scary. I don't understand why everyone is always so excited about the school, or why every bulletin board or club poster on campus has to somehow make a word play using the mascot of the "imp". Really? IMPressive just makes my groan. "impin ain't easy" is a terrible spirit shirt slogan. argh.

Basically this all boils down to- It's high school. Not college. High school is a means to an end. You get in, get it done, get out, and get on with your life. If the senior year of high school is the best year of your life, that's just sad. And the color green of the cafeteria makes me feel a little ill. Too much, people. Save the spirit for college, when you actually choose where you go, as opposed to the state government choosing for you!!

Here ends my rant on school spirit :P
Rants to come: freshmen, busy work, and oh so much more ;)