So, as we all know, New Trier's Homecoming dance was last night and has really gotten the student body stirred up about it. Everyone has the opportunity to attend the first dance of the year while having to deal with the drama of getting a date, buying the ridiculously overpriced tickets, getting a group to go with, finding an elaborate restaurant to dine at, renting out a stretched limo, and finding a house to keep the after party going the rest of the night. At almost any other high school, public or private, the routine is nothing close to that of a trevian. There are no dates, dinners, or party buses equipped with a sound system, mini bar, and strobe light. Also, the guys are not in charge of paying for all these luxuries for both themselves and their dates. Is it chivalry? As much as we would love to believe it, it's pretty clear what it is: tradition. Why do New Trier kids still feel the need to maintain this pricy custom?As American teenagers, we value the ability to make unique choices. Sure, the upperclassmen have the freedom to choose which theme to dress up as at the dance, where to eat, who to ask to the dance, and how to get there. Why can't students choose to break the structured and elaborate tradition we have been presented with all together? We're choosing to spend all this money on one night, but do we feel like we have to? Why do New Trier students feel the need to create such an elaborate Homecoming night while kids across the rest of the country treat it so casually?
Although I agree with you on the fact that as teenagers we value the ability to be unique, I believe that as Trevians we value maintaining our superiority complexes we've been instilled with since birth (or at least since we moved to the district). For example, look at the New Trier motto: "To commit minds to inquiry, hearts to compassion and lives to the service of humanity". It makes me feel like we as soon-to-be New Trier Alumni have the obligation to do the world a favor by merely breathing its air. I may be reading between the lines a bit too much, but that's just how it rubs off on me. And this all relates back to the simple ways we feel like we need to outdo the rest of the country. One of those simple ways is by throwing the best homecoming parties.
ReplyDeleteI think that New Trier students make such a big deal out of these homecoming and other dances we have because we want to keep our "title". As Trevs, we believe that we are better than most other high schools around us. We like to keep our "title" by dining at the most expensive or fun places for our dances, dressing up in more expensive clothing, and taking an outrageous number of pictures is something we do for others rather than ourselfs.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with the fact that the way New Trier students take homecoming over the top. They make it fancier, pricier, and most of all they make it memorable. My best friend goes to Mundelein high school, and as far as I know from what she tells me, homecoming is just another reason to go out and have a good time. However, the one difference between her school and ours, is, just like Abbey said, that the "I'm better than you" attitude has been stuck into our beliefs to stay. I looked on urban dictionary out of curiosity to see what it said about Mundelein and New Trier, and in a nutshell, Mundelein is "known for its losing football team... are most likely to have an ACT score of 14," whereas at New Trier, "We win everything, are smarter than you, and look better while doing it." In short, I believe the reason why we find ourselves doing these crazy, extravagant things is because we have a subconscious belief that we need to be the best, no matter what it is.
ReplyDeleteThe last sentence of Anna's statement was completely true and i totally agree with her because i feel like no one really likes having to do the whole planning and figure all this stuff out. But we do this but we do it because we have to. We do it because we feel like we have a reputation to uphold and everyone else is doing it and we wouldnt want to be stubbed if we decided to break this pricey tradition.
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