Many things died in the years of COVID, school pride being one of them. As the years go by and schools still hold to the same traditions, the loss of spirit has become more noticeable.
“I honestly feel like technology has had a big effect on school pride,” junior Emerson Graham said. “Because instead of sitting and talking with people, people are on their phones or on their Chromebooks.”
This lack of social connection with others stops students from putting themselves in extracurricular activities meant for social bonding. It also stops a constant positive spirit from circulating through the school.
“School pride is an excitement to participate in something that matters and will transcend you even after your time at that school,” English teacher Micah Adams said. “It is an extended life lived collectively.”
The definition of school pride from Google is “at the most personal level, school pride means students identify with their school as part of who they are.” This has changed in the years after COVID, but for some students, that definition applies to them even today.
“I think it’s important to show school pride because it’s like ‘this is who I am,’” Graham said. “A school does a lot for you as a student, and that’s something to be proud of. This [school] is where I learned and grew, and that’s really important.”
In the grand scheme of things, school pride, or school spirit, might not be dead but possibly changed because of the changing of culture and the times.
“Each class ebbs and flows into new ways of focusing on pride,” Adams said. “I believe that pride in your school is entirely situational and inherited through your family and friends.”
Traditions, social activities and a positive spirit fuel school pride. Even engaging in events such as academics or extracurriculars can help support the school especially if those events achieve great heights in awards.
“I feel like we have done a really good job this year as far as school pride,” Graham said. “All of the academics and cheer and choir support each other pretty well for the most part. Of course, we can get better. I think having less judgment will really help with that.”
In the end, school pride has just shifted from the original status but has not died. The school can still band together to support and achieve great things to help that and to help each other.
“Attend events, engage with one another while at school and thank each other for doing kind things” Adams said. “Gratitude goes a long way.”
