The best and worst at WUHS
A person doesn't have to search very far if they want to find school spirit at Wheatland Union High School. Just sitting through the pep rally for the kickoff of fall sports is enough to convince anybody that our students aren't afraid to show off their enthusiasm.
Of course, not everybody is in love with the idea of school. Homework, extracurricular activities and challenging courses are enough to take the cheer out of anybody. So then the question is: How much spirit does our school really have? Do students enjoy the high school experience, or, more specifically, the Wheatland High School experience?
No student confessed to enjoying all the hard work that goes into getting good grades, but most had at least one aspect of school they liked.
Brenda Gomez, a junior, said she appreciates "the overall spirit of everybody."
With plenty of students dressing up for Neon Day and Blue and White Day just a few weeks ago, it's clear that she's not the only one who noticed. Even teachers were seen sporting jerseys and school colors to show off their Wheatland pride.
When asked what his favorite thing about the school was, Nick Haluzak, a sophomore, immediately said, "My friends." This is a popular sentiment, because for many people, their friends make the difference between a boring school day and one that's interesting.
Lunch is such a good time for social hour that students were willing to get on their feet and cheer their loudest during the rally so that they could head to the cafeteria five minutes early. I guess the seniors were really hungry.
As much as students love being Pirates, they aren't afraid to give their honest opinions about what's happening at school. Complaints about homework are common, especially by trapped-for-time juniors and seniors taking on difficult classes.
With summer behind us and at least nine months until high school is done with for good, it is difficult for everybody to get back into the swing of things. This isn't made any easier by the fact that Wheatland is such a small town, and some teenagers talk about a lack of interesting things to do.
For new students coming from other schools, or even other states, this can be quite an adjustment, but for others, the small environment is welcome. Said Desirae Linder, a junior, "It's not as stressful as the bigger campuses." Students agree that this is one of the things that makes WUHS unique.
Whether school is an enjoyable experience is a matter of opinion, and it varies from student to student. People were quick to think of things they didn't like (shockingly, most don't seem to look forward to tests) but plenty of good things came to mind, too. As for the amount of Pirate pride, it's usually at high tide.
Meghan Lasswell is a junior at Wheatland Union High School. Her column appears about every sixth week in Education.
