Opinion articles do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Raider Times staff nor its advisor.

When you were younger, what did you think of when you thought about high school? Did you look forward to it? Did you think about driving, taking home economics, going to football games, being a part of clubs, and all that fun stuff? Did you think about the dances? Looking back, is this how you expected high school to be? I didn’t.

I knew high school would be challenging, after all it was still school. But I looked forward to all of those things, especially the dances! And then I realized that there is no such thing. Sure, when you’re a junior you go to Junior Cruise, and as a senior you go to Prom, but what about the kind of dance everyone is invited to?

Homecoming is a great tradition, and each school does it differently. Some schools go all out, reserving a hall and hiring a DJ, and students come in their dresses and ties and have a good time, while others clear out the school gym and expect casual attire. Students from every grade are allowed to come and celebrate the beginning of a new school year. Homecoming gives students something to look forward to, and it’s a great opportunity to get to know one another and interact with not just a single grade but the entire student body. It brings about a time to improve the school community, while simultaneously pumping everyone up for another school year, and saying goodbye to summer.

Not only would a Homecoming improve the Watertown High School community in regards to spirit, but it would also desperately relieve the anxieties of overwhelmed freshmen and stresses of busy seniors, while anyone in between could just enjoy the night.

As for all the logistics, like organizing the food, music, decorations, and chaperones to make it an enjoyable event for both the students and teachers, everything could be decided and organized by the elected class officers, with the supervision and help of a willing teacher. Funding for the dance would be supplied by the students, leaving plenty for a budget, assuming each ticket cost $15 and at least 400 students paid for a ticket that would leave $6,000 at the dance committee’s disposal.

In the past, taking this last October into account, there have been dances, but hardly any students have come, and those that did deems the event a bust. I, as well as WHS senior Michelle Gallego, believe, “If it was made a big deal and everyone could attend, maybe even kids from other schools, I would definitely go,” also adding that, “the problem with the other dances was that they weren’t advertised as anything special, and no one expected them to be anything.”

To make these events even more unique, as well as appealing, there could be themes, games, student bands and DJs performing, contests and so much more, the ideas are truly endless.

When I was younger, I expected high school to be different. I thought there would be tight-knit clubs, loud sporting events, and I especially looked forward to the dances. I didn’t know I would have to wait three years. The tradition of Homecoming should come back to WHS, and if it does, the wait will be over!