The Homecoming Dance

Imagine this: you and your friends hop out of the car and walk towards the entrance of your very first homecoming dance as freshmen. Your stomach is full of butterflies, and you feel a mix of excitement and nerves. After all, this is your first big impression as a high schooler. It’s a chance to show off your moves, flaunt a new dress, but it’s also a risk. What if you don’t know the songs? What if you embarrass yourself? You hear chatter and music as you walk in, and you pass by a senior who towers over you. You find it hard to believe that in four years that will be you…

Now picture this: It’s your final year at Seven Hills, and you arrive at your last homecoming dance. It’s a bittersweet moment, knowing these next few hours will not come again in the following years, so you’d better make the most of it. As soon as you enter, you notice a shift. Everyone looks up at you, and you feel like the center of attention. The mob on the dance floor that used to scare you now surrounds you and your fellow seniors. It’s slightly overwhelming, so you walk back out and pass by an awkward freshman, who looks at you nervously. It’s mind-blowing how far you’ve come.

This year, homecoming took place on September 20th,  with the theme “enchanted nights and golden lights,” and the student council went all out to decorate. At the homecoming dance, students engaged in a wide variety of activities. The Kalnow Gym was split into two sides, one side for the dance floor and the other being as a place for students to hang out, as well as play games like spike ball and cornhole. In addition, the high school commons served as a place where students could get snacks and talk. There was a place for everyone at the homecoming dance.

For freshmen, the homecoming dance is a milestone – their first dance in high school! Freshman Sarah Olowokure shared, “When walking into the first homecoming dance, I felt a mix of nerves and excitement, and I worried that it might be very awkward.” Freshmen had previously only experienced middle school dances, and so, like Olowokure, they may have been anxious but interested to see how high school dances compared. In middle school, only seventh and eighth graders attended the dances, so the amount of people was much lower than at high school dances. Also, middle school dances do not allow phones, and there are not many spaces for people who do not want to dance to go. Olowokure said, “When I actually walked in, and I was with my friends, and everyone was coming in and dancing, it was a lot more fun than I expected.” Homecoming this year exceeded her expectations and proved to be very fun!

At the opposite end of their high school years, for seniors, the homecoming dance is a last big memory for their final year. Senior Alisha Chaudhary said, “Being a senior at homecoming felt really bittersweet. There was this mix of excitement and nostalgia because we all knew it was our last one.”  When asked about giving advice to younger students about homecoming, Chaudhary shared, “There will always be drama surrounding homecoming, but don’t let it stop you from enjoying it. Prioritize spending time with those who are important to you.” Alisha gives the message that you should remember to have fun at the dances, despite the appeal of gossip.

Senior Alisha Chaudhary and Freshman Sarah Olowkure both experienced that the homecoming dance plays a big part in bringing the community together. Chaudhary explained, “I think there is rarely a time when  the student body is all in one place. I think that bringing the community together physically is really important because it really gives people a sense of community by seeing the high school together.” The dance provides a space and time where all grade levels can mix and enjoy the fun together.

This year’s homecoming was a great success, and very much enjoyed by everyone at the upper school,  including the freshmen and the seniors.