Spirit events were previously considered opportunities for unforgettable memories and although the amount of enthusiasm to participate in these events has diminished, there has been a newfound motivation to restore the spirit of Commack High School to what it once was.
Within the groups of people that choose to participate in spirit events, there is this undeniable sense of community that forms between them. These events allow for students to be excited when coming to school, even if they aren’t usually. It provides something unique to their school day that they could look forward to. Students are given the frequent opportunity to have fun, as well as connect with those who they may not otherwise talk to.
With spirit events, there is a newly formed commonality between the students who participate, allowing for, even if it’s just for one day, acceptance between them.
“You get to meet so many people that you wouldn’t have originally talked to,” said senior Jake D., Student Life president.
There is less of an incentive to participate in spirit events than there was in past years. Within the student body, there is still the hope for connections with new people, as well as a sense of community, but the circumstances have changed. COVID-19, although many years ago, still impacts the nature in which students participate in spirit events. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was expressive effort and plenty of spirit evident within the high school. The reason for this was because of how the traditions of spirit events were passed down from class to class. They were often discussed with excitement and hope for what was to come. Then, with the conditions of COVID-19, it was impossible to conduct spirit events. While being virtual for so long, there was a lost sense of community and inability to carry on these traditions.
“When we got back to normal, it was like starting all over again. The students in the building, most of them didn’t experience some of the biggest events we have here at the high school,” said Student Life adviser Dr. Michael Jeziorski.
An additional reason for diminishing spirit for students may simply be because of societal fear. For high school students, it can be scary to conduct oneself in a way that might result in standing out to classmates. Especially with the rise of social media, students don’t feel as comfortable participating in spirit events, in fear of judgement or rejection.
“I feel like there is this stigma around participating. That […] it’s weird or not cool,” said junior class treasurer Ava K., treasurer of the class of 2027.
This fear of getting judged comes from the knowledge that the students they surround themselves with may not be participating in spirit events. For this reason, just one more student participating can encourage other students to join in. If someone is hesitant to join in at first, they may be more motivated when seeing other students engaging. This can help allow for an easier transition for those who may be nervous about taking part in these events.
For example, Battle of the Classes is a popular event with the school, with high levels of both spirit and participation. Students find the confidence to take this opportunity to engage in a friendly competition between classes. Dr. Jeziorski emphasizes that Battle of the Classes has the most participation out of any other spirit events. This allows for students to feel more motivated to help and support their class.
Along with the event itself, the week leading up to Battle of the Classes is very exciting. With its many activities, games and dress-up opportunities to earn points for their class, students are at the top of their game and ready to end this year-long competition with success.
“Because of Battle of the Classes, there is an incentive to dress up [for spirit days],” said freshman Lilianna D.
Overall, there is a lot to gain from participating in spirit events. For some, it is hard to be brave, and take part in something along with other students, but it is harder to look back at high school and wish for those shared experiences and the memories that come from spirit events.
“Many students believe that dressing up is considered childish or embarrassing [but] I know students will regret the lack of school spirit when they’re older,” said sophomore Avery R., SFAC representative of the class of 2028, via email.
