This year’s homecoming certainly gave many of the 2025 Seniors a bit of a reminder of the beginning of our high school careers. Class of 2025’s freshman year homecoming had been outside due to the risk of COVID-19, but due to it being held in October it had been a miserable experience for many including myself. Seeing the theme and location of this year’s homecoming was certainly a surprise, but the earlier date for the dance made it a lot more bearable. Here are some of my thoughts on the tailgate and our “Night Under the Stars” dance.
The tailgates in the past have certainly been more energetic, but the laid back energy and warmer weather made the experience a bit more enjoyable. The past tailgates I’ve been to I participated with the German National Honors Society, but this year I got a chance to truly play all of the games and whatnot. The event was simple and small at first, but very quickly became absolutely packed. Many other honors societies and clubs had games or booths set up, such as the National Art Honors Society with face painting and DECA with their cornhole game. The food trucks were also appreciated, one for more of a sweet treat with ice cream and the other a cheesesteak truck.
The dance itself was certainly more entertaining than the one that was outdoors in 2021, with generally more to do and more interesting decorations. Freshman year there were no games, no real good dance floor, and bare bones snacks. Even the one in 2022 had been overwhelming with how many people were crammed into the school, indoors was just too claustrophobic for my liking. This year, however, was very different; food trucks, games, activities, and stands for things like caricatures and balloon animals. The music was overall more interesting and fun, a majority of the people there knew almost all of the songs played. During the freshman year homecoming, I knew multiple people that had snuck others into the dance somehow. However, this year’s increase in security made me personally feel much more comfortable and safe during the dance. Initially, I had dreaded the idea of another outdoor homecoming; last time it was cold, anxiety inducing, and the music played was things either from 2012 or things that no one knew. Overall, I’d say this year’s homecoming was very successful! I hope that my friends in grades below mine are able to experience homecoming dances more like this one.