When you hear the word “school spirit,” packed bleachers, crazy outfits on spirit days, and students chanting so loud you can hear them across the campus probably come to mind. That’s the image we have all grown up with, thanks to “High School Musical.”
But let’s be honest, how often does that actually happen here at Granada Hills Charter?
Most spirit days come and go with only a handful of participants. Some games barely fill the stands. Pep rallies get the cheers at lunch, but they don’t get people to go to the games.
Why is this?
Maybe we have just built up this image of what school spirit is supposed to look like, and when it doesn’t, we check out.
“I feel like school spirit isn’t a priority to me,” senior Almendra Ponce said. “I always end up either forgetting about the school events or end up choosing not to participate since none of my classmates or friends will.”
School spirit could become more of a priority if students saw more energy from other students.
“Maybe we would be more excited if we heard others be more enthusiastic about school events and celebrations,” Ponce said, “I think many would agree that if you’re excited about something no one else is excited about, the excitement and joy start to fade easily.”
School spirit could also become more of a priority if there were more themes. The Associated Student Body does a great job of getting us excited during themed spirit week days. Why not extend that to more events?
“I would want to show up and get involved if we had more fun themes for homecoming or a football game,” senior Chanel Osagie said.
However, it is not as easy as it looks.
“The most challenging part of getting students excited or involved is coming up with new activities and ideas,” ASB President Bella Estephan said. “With such a big student body, it’s tough to create events that not only everyone can participate in, but also actually wants to. One of our biggest goals this year is to introduce new games and activities that everyone can enjoy.”
This means understanding that school spirit isn’t always about wearing the most prominent outfit or cheering the loudest at games.
Sometimes it’s quieter than that. It’s cheering on a classmate after a win, sharing a post about a game on social media, or just asking a friend how a game went.
Those small moments make everyone feel like they belong.
“I’m not the kind to dress up in green from head to toe at football games and be the loudest in the crowd,” Ponce said. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy them.”
Everyone shows school spirit differently. Some cheer from the sidelines, some from behind the scenes, and that is okay.
At the end of the day, school spirit at GHC doesn’t have to look like a movie scene to be real. It’s not about going all out with outfits or being the loudest in the crowd. It is about showing up in your own way.
Maybe it’s the little things that matter most. Because when more of us start to show up, even in the smallest ways, that is when real spirit shows.
And who knows? If we all bring just a little more energy, maybe one day those “High School Musical” moments won’t feel so far off.