Dear Toga students: You aren’t ‘too cool’ to attend rallies

Class rivalry during rally games is a great way to raise school and class pride.

Rallies are the perfect way to let loose and form connections in school that go beyond just education.

It’s a rally day. Decked out in class colors and paint, students swarm into the gym during tutorial, trying to squeeze next to their friends in the cramped bleachers. The energy is electric as students get ready to cheer on their class in rowdy rally games.

Although some students choose not to attend rallies or get herded into them by well-meaning staff members, we think attending them shouldn’t regularly be a big deal for anyone. They are usually held during tutorials, which make them the perfect brain break in the middle of a hectic school day.

Rallies usually include fun games in which students from different grade levels and teachers compete against each other. There are also performances from the school’s dance team, cheer team, jazz band and organizations like Singing for Smiles sprinkled in between. You can watch and cheer on your friends’ performances, or watch them win in games against other grades. Attending rallies also presents the opportunity to get back at teachers, especially during student versus staff dodgeball.

Since the school has such a hyper-focused academic culture, screaming and cheering with classmates during class competitions and student versus teachers games is a healthy way of relieving stress and raising class spirit. Going to the rallies will also result in more student engagement, helping the school form a stronger sense of community.

Some may say that they need their tutorials to finish work, but let’s be honest — you had enough time to complete your homework and ask your teacher questions long before you were “too busy” to attend the rally. Poor time management is not a good excuse to avoid participating in school activities.

Additionally, there are less than five rallies held over the school year, with two being night rallies — so missing one rally means losing out on a relatively rare opportunity. Because night rallies are often held before long breaks, attending one is also a convenient way to have fun with your friends before you are separated during break.

You don’t want to look back after graduation to realize all you did was study during high school. Rallies don’t take up too much time out of your day and they are definitely worth attending.