There is a great need for a wider variety of spirit days to be implemented into the spirit week schedules. 

As various TikTok trends have emerged showcasing more diverse spirit days, students have become frustrated with the same redundant options. 

Trends such as “Adam Sandler Day” and “Anything but a Backpack Day” are beginning to change the culture around spirit days and are making students want to participate. 

So why can’t we get these approved at our school, and thus change the trajectory of spirit weeks?

It is common knowledge that many students choose to not participate in spirit days because they either don’t care, don’t feel like it, or don’t know about it. 

“I don’t participate in them because I don’t always know that they are going on, and they also get a little repetitive,” said basketball player Brock Morris. 

Various clubs and organizations sponsor about five spirit weeks on average throughout the year.

Groups such as Future Farmers of America (FFA), Student Council, and Aevidum are the primary planners.

FFA typically holds a spirit week during National FFA Week in February, and Student Council runs one during homecoming week, as well as the week leading up to prom. 

Aevidum doesn’t tend to have a set time frame for their designated spirit weeks, but they typically fall around holidays, mental health related weeks, or to add some fun to the building.

“We try to have a spirit week to make the week a little more lighthearted and make students aware of Aevidum and what it is,” said Aevidum President Bridget Kilgore. 

Common themes between all three groups included specific color days, twin day, country day, and pajama day. 

While these themes are not necessarily bad or unoriginal, they have been constantly overused every year. 

Student Council President Brittany Thomas agreed that people are most likely not participating in spirit weeks due to their repetitive nature. 

FFA officer Jenna Morris, along with Kilgore and Thomas, all reported proposing more unique theme days to administration, only to have them denied.

Such ideas have included: Vine/meme day and “White Lie” day. Most students when asked if they would prefer one of these options over the typical list, all enthusiastically answered yes. 

Administration has yet to comment on this issue.

Moving forward, hopefully there can be a change in the types of spirit days allowed and held. Whether this be concession from the administration, unique options with less room for student misuse, or more students taking a stand–as the majority of the school population clearly desires it. 

The primary point of a spirit week is to unify and bring the school together. If no one is participating, this goal cannot be accomplished. 

Diversifying spirit days will allow for more student participation, and in turn create a more positive school environment.