The night breeze gives me goosebumps as the smell of barbecue and hot dogs flood my senses as I try to shield my eyes from the bright Saturday night lights. I am in the midst of a crowd of students following the green flag held by the Class of 2018’s president in efforts to win back flight zone. Huddled together, we successfully earn back our space while screaming Harker’s fight chant. I then slowly begin to warm up because there are so many proud people surrounding me, all routing for our school and for each other.

This spirit week was one for the books. The experience showed me the sights that I love. I saw the quiet student, who never talks in class, smack dab in the middle of our half circle during our class scream off. I experienced the energy in Shah and found it to be incomparable, with my entire grade huddled together as a family, screaming “I believe” before our successful tug-of-war, in which we fought hard, lead by the shouts of Jimmy Lin coaching us to victory. Our positivity and spirit was shown through the dependence and sense of community we displayed as we all listened quietly as Dolan explained to us how to enter the spirit rally as a united class and when we created an intricate eagle under the direction of our talented classmate Kaitlyn.

Yes, we had leaders, but everyone took the effort to dress up and cheer our princes and princesses on. Everyone screamed during the scream off, and everyone ran together onto the field during the spirit rally. That is what mattered. A dancer, a football player, a girl who spends all her time in the library and a teacher that we all love all somehow ended up in one location to talk and laugh for an entire week. After this riveting week, those who I once called classmates, I now call friends.

I love this, and I love this feeling. This feeling of having people surrounding me, fighting for a similar cause and being there for each other. I think in a sense, the world is practicing this right now. In the last few weeks, it has felt like the world is going to end. There have been hurricanes, earthquakes, lightning in 90 degree weather, political decisions that have hurt a lot of people and death. However, despite the adversity, neighbors have helped each other out, journalists have risked their lives by flying into danger zones to report, people have donated what they can, and rescue teams have tried their best to save whomever they can. I am proud of American citizens for standing up for DACA immigrants who have not been able to stand up for themselves, and I am proud to be a part of a country in which people help and support each other.

I believe that it is these little events, like spirit week at school, that instill these values in people and teach them the power of community. My school and my grade definitely have these values, and I am proud of Harker and especially the class of 2018 for creating a community and a sense of unity. Spirit week was a success thanks to all 185 of us and I can only hope that our next spirit week will be even better.