Homecoming is one of the most significant events for high schoolers, especially for the freshmen and sophomores that are ineligible for prom. Many of us make big plans for Homecoming, and it is usually advertised as the high school experience.
But is it really?
As all high schoolers know, Homecoming is an important event that the majority of students will attend yearly (this year, it was on September 29th). This formal dance is held in the big gym, and loud, remixed music and hyped-up crowds often define Homecoming (or “Hoco,” for short). Usually, a Homecoming King and Queen are elected the football game before the event. Of course, the organizers never fail to advertise this dance – usually students will make big plans and host big parties with their friends for this special night, and if a student is lucky, he or she will get a date for such an important evening.
Oftentimes, however, many students will leave the dance a little disappointed. Some people complained about this year’s new DJ or the cutting out of the music that left the crowd bewildered. When asked about this year’s Hoco, some people recall the blinding strobe lights that made them uneasy – others remember huddling in a tight group of friends and screaming at each other because the music deafened most ears. In fact, some people even chose to skip their Homecoming dance, citing time commitments.
For me, my expectations of Hoco differ greatly from what Hoco ends up being. During the weeks before my first Hoco as a freshman, I imagined this dance as some sort of down-scale disco party or something – somewhat chill vibes and a party-like atmosphere. However, the hot, stuffy air of the gym made Hoco feel more like a mosh pit, with the riled up crowds and music so loud talking to your friends is basically impossible.
It’s not even like they organizers need to revamp the whole dance; as far as I’m concerned, the organizers just need to turn the music down a little bit and offer some more refreshments for me to actually enjoy going to this dance. As the overpowering music and hot, stuffy air of the big gym are the two biggest downsides for me, that’s all the organizers need to do to make Hoco closer to the high school experience we all dream of.
For now, however, I think I’m speaking for a lot of people when I say that the current version of Homecoming is overrated.
