New traditions arise amidst cancelation of school dance
Abby Waechter | Staff Writer
Before COVID-19, highschoolers never imagined they would have to spend their homecoming at home.
When the dance was cancelled, many students thought that there would be no celebration this year. However, a handful of MHS students refused to let the pandemic get in the way of the tradition and are throwing their own “fake” homecomings, or “fauxcomings,” in response.
There are a variety of different ways in which students are taking initiative and are making the most out of the situation they are currently in. Some are having bonfires with small groups of friends, some are having an outdoor get-together, some are dressing up and taking pictures, and some are having exquisite celebrations in multiple different locations.
One particular group of students is aiming to create an inclusive homecoming at home by hosting their homecoming with multiple different locations in order to share the experience with friends from other school districts.
According to the intricate plans of the night, pictures will take place in Springboro, appetizers and a main dish will be served in Mason, and the group will conclude in Lakota to end the night with dessert and a movie. Sophomore Drew Fox said his friend group is aiming to make the night seem as normal as it typically would be compared to any other year while including his friends from other districts.
“We’re dressing up and getting pictures together as if it was any other homecoming,” Fox said. “I think it’s important to just get together with friends and attempt to do something that makes things seem kind of normal again.”
A common ground can be found in the variety of different ways in which students are celebrating Homecoming this year:are all trying to live their high school experience to the fullest even while there are significantly
less people participating because of the safety concerns that people have because of the pandemic.
Junior Sia Dornhecker is also participating in a “fauxcoming” and believes that by participating in the small things, she can live her highschool experience to the fullest. “I think it’s important to do fun things like this,” Dornhecker said. “Although we are living our high school experience in these unprecedented times, we should still have a chance to make the most out of the situations we are in.”
For many seniors, experiencing the “lasts” of their high school experience, homecoming is one such
event that the class of 2021 wouldn’t want to miss.
One group of seniors is hosting a backyard homecoming in order to salvage their last homecoming. Senior Emma Dalton is celebrating her final homecoming with friends dressing up, taking pictures, and catering food from Chick-Fil-A.
“I think it’s super important to still do events like these because it’s our senior year,” Dalton said. “I don’t want to look back on my senior year of highschool with sadness or regret. Sure, it will look different, but I think I’ll remember this homecoming more than any other one.”
Although the pandemic and social distancing guidelines prohibit large gatherings of students that would normally be seen at homecoming, does not mean that new traditions can not be made.
Considering the situation at hand, Dalton feels that just because this version of homecoming may look different from others, doesn’t mean that memories will not be made.
“I think that a lot of people have the idea that it’s out of their hands, when in reality they can go and make something like this happen so easily,” Dalton said. “These memories are so important and I hope that more people can get out there and find their own ways of making them.”