By Maren Ingram, Opinions Editor 

For most high school students, the best time of the year is mid-October… Homecoming. It’s when Spirit Week and parade planning is in full swing, our football players are practicing plays for the big game Friday night, and everyone is making plans for the beloved dance on Saturday. 

But this school year, the fall season is looking a little bit different. Although many students, like me, are excited to have the opportunity to return to school under a hybrid plan, we all know that school just won’t be the same. 

There won’t be hundreds of students decked out in yellow, orange, green and red headed to the football field for Coach Prince’s ‘I Am Somebody’ speech. There won’t be fans packed into the stands watching our football team win the homecoming game. 

We won’t be cheering on our class as they battle it out in tug-of-war at the pep rally, and we won’t laugh with our friends as our faces are covered in paint while decorating our class float. 

And that, for me, is the hardest to come to terms with. School isn’t just about sitting in a classroom, taking tests and doing projects. It’s about the entire student body coming together for a pep rally and everyone dressing up for themed football games. 

That’s the entire high school experience. It’s about getting involved in school, whether that be running for student government, playing a sport or simply painting a sign for your class homecoming float. 

And with COVID-19 restrictions limiting the number of students in school, going back in a few days is going to be a lot different, especially since the student population is separated into two cohorts, and some students have opted to not return at all. 

This time of uncertainty has been hard for everyone, but as a junior, I feel lucky to have one more year to really soak in the high school experience and get another chance at a normal fall season next year. 

Those who are seniors this year have not been so lucky. They unknowingly had their last normal homecoming week experience last school year — and I feel for them. 

Upon returning to school Oct. 26, obviously a lot of things will be different. But I think during this difficult time it’s important to focus on the positives — I know I feel fortunate to be able to return to school at all, unlike students in so many other places. 

And with many fall sports seasons pushed back to February, I’m hoping we can return to some sort of normalcy then, even if it is only celebrating Spirit Week with your cohort, or wearing masks in the football stands. 

Junior Maren Ingram can be reached at 22IngramMa01@daretolearn.org.