The large gym was packed with students from all grade levels during the annual Food Truck Fest on Aug. 16. The lights were dim, and in front of all our eager faces the homecoming reveal video was starting to play.
Under the premise of board games as this year’s theme for Homecoming, principal Greg Louie first revealed the teachers’ theme: The Game of Life — a solid choice for the administration. The freshmen received Jumanji, sophomores Clue and juniors Candyland.
By then, I was brimming with excitement. If even the freshmen were given such a good theme for Homecoming, I couldn’t wait to see what theme Spirit Commission assigned to my senior class; I honestly could not think of anything that could top Jumanji or Clue.
Unfortunately, I was right. Because we got Monopoly.
Now, by itself, Monopoly is a great board game that dates back more than a century. But compared to the rest of the grades’ themes, it’s by far the worst.
When the video ended, my friends and I were justifiably upset, because historically, the seniors get the best Homecoming theme, as it’s their last year in high school. But what happened here?
Let’s take a look at the 2022-2023 school year: The theme? Superheroes. The freshmen were the Powerpuff Girls; sophomores Power Rangers; juniors DC; and finally, the seniors were the Avengers.
This was a perfect example of each grades’ theme building up to the best one. The Avengers is a crowd favorite theme, and it was fitting that it went to the oldest grade.
This year’s themes don’t build up to the best during the week-long Quad Day performances. The week will start with the leading themes and then plummet for the senior class.
Jumanji and Clue are epic, mystery-filled adventure games, with suspense and excitement packed into a rectangular box for ages six and up.
Both games also have movies based on them, giving the freshman and sophomore grades advantages for their skit.
What skit can be made from Monopoly? Teaching people about the perils of monopolies and how taxpayer dollars affects the American economic system? How scintillating.
Jumanji and Clue offer so many ideas, decorations and costumes that could be used for their quad day performance: A buff park ranger, a witty detective, a smoldering Dr. Bravestone — the options are endless.
What are we seniors supposed to be dressed up as? The thimble? A dog?
Now obviously, my opinions are probably not identical to the entire senior class. Maybe being the thimble is your senior Homecoming dream.
And I realize the Homecoming theme is not an earth-shattering event that will define my life in 50 years.
Still, I just wish that there was more inclusion of student voice when making these class choices. That way, we can have a greater consensus and less disappointment when themes are announced officially.
For now, we seniors will need to get out of the jail of our bitterness over this choice and start building our Homecoming fortunes as we try to bankrupt the juniors, sophomores and freshmen.
