Shadow Mountain Homecoming
It’s easy to know that fall has arrived when Shadow Mountain High School begins its homecoming festivities. For MANY years, Shadow has hosted homecoming, celebrating alongside the community with a parade down Shea Blvd. As my senior year kicks into high gear, I’ve begun to reminisce about my 13 years of participation in the event.
Though the festivities extend far beyond the parade, it’s the school’s main form of engagement with the community. In elementary school, I marched with my friends, throwing candy at the kids on my way down the street. Middle school got a little funky for me; the pandemic got in the way, and I felt like I was too cool to participate. Freshman year: I walked with Key Club, picking up trash at the back of the parade. Sophomore year: I walked with the girl’s golf team, taking photos and tossing more candy out to the kids. Junior year: I ran around with my friend Ava, taking photos for the yearbook. THIS year: I rode in a convertible with my friend Ellie as part of the Senior Homecoming Court. Even if you’re not a student, the parade is a great community event that is definitely worth attending if you have younger kids with you. Bring a bag so you can catch some candy from the students heading down the street. As students and staff began excitedly anticipating the parade, many stayed cautiously optimistic that it wouldn’t, literally, rain on our parade. Thankfully, it didn’t!
After the parade, STUGO and the various clubs across our campus put on a tailgate, open to the community. The event is a fun way to cool off after the parade. Clubs can host a booth to raise money for their members and events. Some offer food, others have games and prizes. Even if you don’t stay long, the tailgate is definitely a great place to socialize and enjoy the outdoors. I didn't spend much time there this year, but I came back for the tail end, hitting up one of the carnival rides and reuniting with my friends before walking over to Victory Stadium.
Unfortunately, it did rain at the football game. A lot. Our team got out to a pretty good start, scoring a touchdown in the first quarter. Our progress slowed, and the other team overtook us pretty quick; but what I found endearing was that, despite the decent rainfall, the students stayed to cheer on their peers. After halftime, the game seemed to drag on, but I still had fun hanging out with my friends and cheering on the team. It’s hard for me to get a read on what the football game experience might be like for a non-student, but you’ll definitely get your fill if you yearn for those Friday night lights. The Homecoming game stands alone, getting the biggest turnout of the year and bringing the community together for an evening of camaraderie and togetherness.
Even though the dance isn’t a public event, I still feel like giving it some space as it’s one of the cornerstone events of the weekend. My favorite part of the dance is getting dressed up, taking pictures with my friends, and going out for a nice dinner. The dance consists of really loud music and lots of jumping, but it’s still a fun way to connect with friends and make memories on your big night out. My friends and I got Slurpees at 7/11 after, which was a nice way to close off the night.
And just like that, one of the major senior year milestones is DONE! All in all, I would say my last homecoming was a success! I’ll miss experiencing the community gathering and the weekend’s events, but I’m grateful that I was able to make the most of my homecoming experience over the last four years. It’s comforting to know that I’ll be able to come back and experience a sliver of the fun again in the future.
