by Maya Girimaji, features editor
From the crack of dawn to the dark hours of the night, Student Council members work hard to put together an unforgettable dance
Homecoming. A night for high school students to cram into a room and dance away all of their problems. Probably one of the most magical nights of a high school career. And there are so many things that go into making that night unforgettable. First, you have to find a date or a group of friends that will go with you. Then, for girls, there’s the long struggle of trying to find the perfect dress. And don’t forget the exasperating conversations of organizing where the pictures are taken and the argument over where dinner is. And, finally, the stress of getting ready. But part of what makes the night amazing is the setting, and people forget that it takes time and effort to do that. This time and effort that many Student Council members are willing to put aside makes Homecoming remarkable.
As a sophomore Student Council member, I can speak from experience. All sophomore StuCo members had to help set up. Starting a couple hours before the homecoming game, these students gathered in the cafeteria and started prepping the room for the dance. Most of the time was spent collecting material and putting up black paper on the wall. The next day was when the real decorations were brought out.
At 7:30 A.M. on the day of Homecoming, about 15 sophomores stood patiently in the cold as they waited for the cafeteria doors to be unlocked. The minute the doors opened, they all rushed in and immediately split up into groups and tackled their assignments. Finishing up the walls and having to cover the poles with brown crumpled paper to make trees took at least two hours. A few club members joined the sophomores later in the day and helped with lights and decorating the trees.
Towards 10 A.M., the walls were done being covered and lights were starting to be put up. The main focus of the dance was to make it as captivating and mystical as possible, since the theme was an Enchanted Forest. One of the key factors were the pixie lights. These lights were strewn everywhere, especially in the entrance to create a canopy effect. Table clothes were thrown over the tables and soon decorated with marbles, fake moss, and lanterns. Hoping to achieve a “foresty” look, green tulle was hung near the entrance with the lights to complete the canopy.
As the hours ticked by, the DJ joined the set up and prepared his equipment for the long night ahead. The stress of completing the set up and not having lunch made many of us easily aggravated and we would sometimes snap at the smallest of things. This would cause small arguments, but once the stereo system was pulled out and music filled the cafeteria, everybody calmed down and focused on finishing the job they came here to do. By one, all of the decorations were finished and the club members cleaned the room before quickly rushing out to get ready.
For those who didn’t go to the dance, imagine this. Upon entering the cafeteria, all of the lights are shut off except for the lights from the dance floor, the pixie lights near the entrance and the back near the tables. Lights shone above the entrance and a green glow from the tulle was cast upon the people that stood underneath it. A gigantic tree with branches that reached out welcomingly was decorated with flowers, and in the background were several other trees that accompanied it. Two poles on either side were wrapped tightly with lights and a photo booth with a vintage look was nearby. As you walk further in, elegant tables sat on the side as lanterns flickered softly atop it. In the middle of all of this was the dancing area and the DJ. And the only sound in the room was the loud music that blasted from the speakers.
As the clock hit midnight, the cafeteria lights were turned back on and students shuffled out, leaving twenty Student Council members who tore down the decorations they spent many hours putting up before. By one o’clock, the cafeteria was cleaned up and the tables were set back in their original place, marking the end of an eventful night.
