I wasn't always this critical about spirit week. I used to take part in it myself, mainly freshman year. However, sophomore year, I wondered what would happen if I didn't participate, just for one day. I didn't expect it to be such a big deal- mainly I just didn't want to have to put together a special outfit, but instead sleep as late as I could and put on whatever I first found. But, when I got to school, I found myself being singled out, not only by my friends, but by absolute strangers. That year turned me off to the idea of spirit week as a whole.
This year, however, was even worse. A large majority of the junior class was obsessed with winning, stating that we "HAVE" to win all four years. So, when I showed up to class dressed in whatever I grabbed as I rolled out of bed, I was met with an astounding amount of criticism and degrading comments. It got so bad that people were attempting to physically change my appearance so that I fit in the guidelines for the day. I suffered through having a white piece of paper duct-taped to my shirt, a japanese food held up next to my face, and my face being painted.
Similar to Hester Prynne and in the words of Deborah Tannen, by not wearing the designated spirit wear for the day, I had been "marked". I had been singled out, admittedly by my own choice, for the sole reason of being different. If it bothers me so much that people are isolating me for not participating, why don't I just suck it up and conform? Because I believe that I shouldn't have to wear a certain color not to be ridiculed by my peers. So yeah, I might be the kind of person you hate and curse at when the junior class loses spirit week for the day. But at least I'm not mindlessly conforming to a social standard, and at the very least, I get an extra five minutes of sleep.
Spirit week should be all in good fun, but I do agree that some people take things a little too far. It'll definitely be good, especially in the future, to keep the mindset of just being yourself.
ReplyDeleteThis post sounds like you can emphasize with a few characters in The Scarlet Letter. Thank you for this refreshing anecdotal post.
ReplyDeleteSpirit week is for fun, so I have to agree that it got a little too much this year. I never really understood why you wouldn't participate so its nice to finally understand your viewpoint. Its pretty healthy to stand up and be who you are. Good job! :)
ReplyDeleteI agree! The only reason I dressed up for some days in spirit week because I wasn't willing to have people yell at me for wearing what I actually wanted to wear. It's a little pathetic that spirit week is more about conformity than actual school spirit.
ReplyDeleteHi Marena!
ReplyDeleteI know it is a little bit late, but I just came across this blog and instantly felt guilty. I wanted to apologize for singling you out during spirit week. I did not think that the face paint would offend you and I did not by any means want to make you do anything you were uncomfortable with. To me, spirit week was about unity rather than conformity, but now I understand that you had a different perception than I did.
Hey Eric!
DeleteIt's fine- I wasn't offended, I just felt that there was something to be said about spirit week. No need to feel guilty! I know most people don't think the way I do, and that's fine.