I don’t think there was a single Lancer who was looking forward to the start of school.
I’m not talking about getting to see friends every day, or starting sports and clubs again. When I say school, I mean forcing yourself out the door at 7:30 every morning. And getting hand cramps from taking notes in class. And getting stuck in between two linebackers on the middle stairwell.
Maybe it’s just me, but after a summer devoted to church retreats in the Smoky Mountains and interning for a hip new women’s soccer team, I lost a lot of Lancer spirit. I just wasn’t into it. Luckily, by the first day of school, I found that spirit again.
You see, Link Crew training started, and I was ready to be “that” kid. It’s so easy to do it. Make fun of all the cheers. Talk through lectures. Ignore activities and turn school into an excuse to hang out with friends.
I know a lot of kids who do this. The ones who skip pep assemblies and football games, who poke fun at students dressed up in overalls and capes for spirit week. They don’t know the cheers or the school song.
I’ve thought a lot about becoming one of those kids. Because there’s a certain side of me that understands it. East traditions are kind of silly.
We loudly warn our freshmen to not set foot on the seal until they letter or become seniors. We wear ridiculous clothes — wolf shirts, chicken costumes, boxers — just to show spirit. We memorize chants and storm the field after we beat Rockhurst, as if we’re cheering on the Chiefs on the road to the Super Bowl.
Yes, we’re silly. But after explaining these traditions to my Link Crew, I realized that being silly is good. More than good. It makes spending four years in this school worth it.
I told my kids that to be a Lancer, you have to commit. You have to act crazy. You have to be over the top and dress for every theme and boo every time South is mentioned.
We do this because it’s fun. Because high school is supposed to be fun. Yes, you can reject it. You can call it stupid. But you won’t have as much fun, I guarantee you. I hate to be cliche, but this time is what you make of it.
Welcome to high school. Try to enjoy it.
Leave a Reply