Cheers engulfed the crowds of students in the stands. It was the beginning of the 2006 school year and everything was just getting started. The room was vibrating, the seats were shaking and their chants grew louder. The teacher standing on the gym floor pointed to one section of the seats, and as she did, the cheers bounced off the walls.
“BOOM BAH.”
She quickly turned around and reached her hand in the air towards the other section.
“HEY.”
The football team ran into the gym, and the students went crazy. Their cheers roared when The Marquettes sashayed through the double doors. Immediately forming their lines and falling into a kick routine. The students stood as the girls bowed. The rest of the sports teams found their spots, as the students settled down.
Soccer player Samuel Garza stood alongside his teammates looking up into the stands. His friends’ smiles looked down from red seats. There was an upcoming game, so the school gathered the student body to show support for the teams. Teachers, coaches, players and even parents joined in the gym. The players sat on the cold gym floor. Everyone’s eyes were on the cheerleaders. As one petite cheerleader was lifted, tossed into the air and spun, the audience’s eyes were locked, and their hands came together. Garza said that being able to get out of class and celebrate your peers was a great experience.
…
Now a teacher, he stands on the stadium floor in front of his soccer players. Clapping along with the cheerleaders’ chant, he smiles, remembering his pep rallies here. That smile doesn’t last long when he looks into the seats above. Frowning faces and crossed arms meet Garza’s gaze. The seats are full of students on their phones.
It’s been ten years since Garza graduated, but he believes that the increase in social media has disconnected the students. He thinks that as the school grows it becomes harder to socialize with other students.
“We weren’t worried about what other people thought,” Garza said. “If they were going to tweet it.”
Teachers have been pushing for an increase in spirit within students. They introduced Red Nation and have added more clubs. They have attempted to make activities more interactive.
When Garza looks back on his experience here, he remembers the school spirit as high. Every sports team was celebrated and everyone wanted to support their peers.
He feels that the mentality has changed. For some students, not liking your school is cool, not participating is fun and picking on the ones that have spirit is a part of the high school culture now.
MHS9 English teacher, Kailey Hughes, doesn’t believe that the school spirit here is that different since she graduated. Hughes believes that on the new ninth grade campus there is a more prominent expression of spirit and thinks the only reason upperclassmen aren’t as enthusiastic is because they have more going on in their lives.
“Students have different priorities than they did years ago,” Hughes said, “That can contribute to the fact that school spirit is less important to them.”
Garza thinks that this isn’t a problem the school can help. He believes that the only way to really make a change in Marauder spirit is if the students want it.
“At the end of the day, it has to be a personal decision from kids themselves,” Garza said. “You’re in this school, and you’re with your friends and coming out there for a greater good than just yourself.”
