Excitement during spirit weeks is fading and student section bleachers are collecting dust.
School spirit has been declining this year.
It is honestly a shame when visiting schools have bigger student sections than we do.
With being a cheerleader, it is much easier to do our job when we have a student section backing us up. However, with no one in the stands, it flat-out sucks. It is awkward and uncomfortable to cheer for no one.
“I have my cheerleaders participate in school spirit days and events to encourage others to do the same,” Lakeland Head Cheer Coach Cynthia Peck, said.
Even when we have students line the student section, oftentimes they do not cheer which is almost worse than not having a student section.
An observation I have made as someone who attends at least one game a week is that visiting teams have brought a bigger student section to an away game than we have at our own game.
Our motto here at LHS is “We Are One,” yet, many times our players and cheerleaders are left alone with no one to cheer them on or stand with them. We rarely come together to fight for what we want.
“School spirit is important because if you’re here for four years why not make it more fun by doing the things that make high school, high school,” Olivia Villa said.
If you were out there playing your heart out, wouldn’t you want your peers there to support you?
On the other hand, parent support has been consistent. The last few games have been stacked with parents. Still, having parents watch has a different feel than having a student section.
“We try to get student participation by giving them free things, having booster club help, as well as fundraising opportunities,” Knoll said.
I understand that not everyone can show up to every single game but, as a student of LHS our school spirit is not something we seem to care much about anymore.
I am not sure what happened but, in the past couple of years there has been an extreme decline in showing our spirit.
“I personally feel that the underclassmen do not seem to care as much and I feel that as an upperclassmen myself, the higher grades need to show them why it is so important,” Villa said.
Coming in as a freshman I remember filling the stands to the brim at games. Students chanting all together at once. Now, students barely come through the door of games.
“I want our student section to look the way it does at Battle for the Paddle all the time,” Jimmy Hoffman said.
Which, as a cheerleader, I think we need that level of hype all the time.
“I think we need to use Gonzaga’s model where people show up just for the student section,” Hoffman said.
I get being a freshman is intimidating and you are afraid to do things wrong, trust me we have all been there. However, it definitely makes your high school experience more fun as well as the others around you when you show up and participate. Who cares if you look ridiculous.
“Honestly, I think that the students’ access to social media and just phones alone may have something to do with the lack of participation,” Peck said.
This is honestly a very true statement. Social media is definitely something that this generation runs on. Why go out to a game to see your friends when you can text them while sitting in bed?
“This year’s green and gold spirit day for Battle for the Paddle was the worst ever. The assembly was honestly embarrassing,” Knoll said.
With this being said, we need to bring back our school spirit. It is not called Extreme Green and Gold day for students to barely try or not even dress up at all.
Spirit days are not just for fun they are a way to show your pride for what you are a part of.
It is a privilege to be able to attend a high school like this. Others do not have the same opportunities as students here at LHS do.
I remember walking in on the day of the homecoming game of my freshman year. It was my first Extreme green and gold day ever at high school.
I walked in wearing one of my lakeland shirts, some hawk socks, and a few other small green and gold items.
I saw people painted in shades of green and gold, people wearing tutus, layers of clothing, green and gold makeup, everyone’s outfits screamed lakeland pride.
We need to bring back the crazy, outlandish outfits, because it is fun.
