Homecoming Week is a time to show pride and make memories
The early stages of fall bring crisp air, a colorful campus and most importantly a feeling of nostalgia. The sense of nostalgia that comes with the season brings none other than the greatest of traditions: Homecoming Week.
Homecoming, put simply, is one of the biggest traditions for a student. It is meant to signal the return of students to their schools, a place to call home for nine months out of the year. But homecoming can be so much more than that.
A week of entertainment, events and school spirit is the best way to cultivate pride in the University of Idaho community. Homecoming Week brings together students, families, the people of Moscow and alumni in one place for a short time to showcase Vandal pride.
UI homecomings are large events for a fairly small but close-knit town. That is precisely the reason it is so great.
The town I grew up and attended high school in was also fairly small, but held grand homecoming events. My love for a week dedicated to school spirit and tradition definitely stemmed from those four years. There is nothing better than taking joy in an event everyday after school, or participating in school functions with friends.
I knew high school would eventually come to an end, so taking part in every aspect of homecoming and taking in every ounce of school spirit became a tradition in itself. Now even though I have college homecoming weeks to love, those memories made in high school are still great to look back on.
One day, UI students will look back on their college careers full of memories and pride in what they accomplished while there.
School weeks that carry such eventfulness are far and few between in the college setting. So, seven days of excitement and amusement that cater to the college-age demographic is what makes going to college so wonderful.
The football game, the Homecoming Parade, the fireworks and the bonfire are just some of the main events that all scream tradition.
Though for some students, Homecoming Week isn’t all it is chalked up to be. That is OK. Not every event or ritual is going to cater to every student. However, it is not just Homecoming Week events that make it so special.
What makes Homecoming Week exciting is that everyone is back in the same place ready to take on another school year with pride and spirit.
Not everyone has to share in the exact homecoming experience. Homecoming is what a student makes of it. If simply sharing the week with friends while doing something completely different from the week’s planned events is what a student wants, then that makes for a great homecoming week as well.
However, there really is something for every student to partake in. Sometimes it just takes a little planning when it comes to some peoples’ crazy schedules.
Everyone should be able to enjoy a week that advocates school spirit and togetherness.
Later in life, when students have left college far beyond, there will come a time where fall returns and that same nostalgic feeling takes over. Reminiscing over college days will bring about fond memories, and I am willing to bet many of those memories will come from Homecoming Week.
Hailey Stewart can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter at @Hailey_ann97