Is school spirit necessary?
Written by Kelsey Thorp, Former Student on Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Some schools have it, some schools don’t. Some students take pride in it, some don’t even think about it. We’re talking about school spirit. Pride and spirit for your school isn’t just for the “preppy” kids, or the cheerleaders or the athletes. Every student can benefit from taking pride in their school.
First of all, high school can be a tricky time, especially when kids are trying to find their “place” in school. Unfortunately and inevitably, high schools end up splitting up and dividing into groups and “cliques.” If there was one thing that could bring all of the student body together, it would have to be school spirit. Sharing pride and spirit for something that everyone is involved in can really unify the students and bring them together to become a whole. Having a mutual interest in something can bring together and unify a whole school. If they are brought together and engage in school spirit activities, it can lead to more healthy social interactions. School spirit can help build and better relationships between students and between their communities.
Based on the Varsity Brands's study, 87 percent of high schoolers who participate in school spirit-related events and activities are also involved with their community. Teens in high school are always being encouraged to get involved and to be a part of their community, school spirit has been shown to motivate them to do so.
Of course, there is no scientific proof that can prove that school spirit is tied to a student’s achievement, but there is definitely evidence that supports it. Not only can it unify the school, but students personally can feel more motivated to achieve. A recent study done by Varsity Brands showed that 92 percent of high school principals feel that school pride is tied to a student’s achievement. The study also showed that 75 percent of high schoolers who show school spirit preform above average. In general, being involved with your school and showing pride is a positive thing. School spirit is not only thought of as a way to bring students together and to motivate them to achieve, but overall it can improve a person’s self-esteem and general happiness. High school can be stressful, with all of the tests and worrying about grades, but having pride in your school and showing spirit can be a an outlet to relieve the stress. School spirit could possibly make a person happier and maybe make all of the stressing feel worth it.
In conclusion, school spirit is for all kids. Everyone should be involved in their school. The biggest benefit to school spirit is that it can get rid of the divided groups throughout the school and unify the student body. Having pride in your school is an important factor for anyone's four years of high school.
