Celebrating the spirit of teamwork

Andrew Carnegie once said, "Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results."

The skits were entertaining, the class chants creative and the hallways, as always, were decorated to the nines. Homecoming/spirit week came and went for students at Faith Christian High School last week. It's always an intense time of competition and excitement, but, for many students, it was a time to bond and have fun. It was also a time to attain "uncommon results."

For example, as part of the spirit week competition, FCHS chooses a charity to support. This year's "spirit chain" money went toward both Faith Christian's upcoming project to remodel the art room and science lab, as well as the international program Invisible Children, which aids in the reconstruction of schools in Uganda, Africa.

Over the course of two weeks, FCHS students were able to raise a little more than $1,830. In the end, students were impressed with what and how much they could accomplish by working together. Some classes held bake sales and raffles during the home basketball games, while others put on a "mini carnival" at our elementary campus, all of which required careful planning and student input.

"It was risky business putting on the carnival, but it was very successful, not to mention a lot of fun. Both the younger kids and my classmates enjoyed it," said Elizabeth Andrus, a junior.

The enthusiastic competition also happens to make spirit week one of the busiest weeks of the school year. Students go all out to top their rival classes. They meet several times outside of school to rehearse skits, craft together major hallway centerpieces and work on different fundraising ideas.

Tricia Hendricks, a junior, said, "I always love spirit week because it's fun to work together, our aim being to win. Bonding in the process is always a bonus."

Bonding was definitely apparent among some of the classes. It was great to see students test drive their own creativity, as well as discover their own strengths and weaknesses.

"This year's theme was board games," said Jesse Clark, also a junior. "It was interesting and competitive, but, overall, exciting."

As the excitement escalated on the night of the homecoming basketball game, students joined together to cheer on their favorite team: the FCHS lions. The varsity boys game was close, but I'd like to believe that the crowd's cheering, screaming and praying led the boys to a 49-46 victory against the Sacramento Country Day Cavaliers.

Just like the basketball team, as we worked together, students were able to win together. And, yes, the senior class did take home the spirit trophy that night, but I think that each of the other classes won something as well: Each class learned the importance of team work. In the end, they may have not received first place, but everyone's efforts were celebrated. Can't one consider that winning, too? I believe so.

Courtney Taylor is a junior at Faith Christian High School. Her column appears every six weeks in Education.