Through the weeks of October 21-25. New prepared for its big homecoming week. Filled with spirit and fun. Monday was Olympics-themed. Tuesday was decades day, and Wednesday was hometown spirit. Thursday was blackout day in a show of support for the flag football team. Finishing off with the Spooky Soirée dance!
Before I go over how homecoming was, it is important to clarify what home coming is about. Homecoming is about welcoming back Alumni to their home aka the school. While the hosts and dance and homecoming football game. First, I was interested in hearing about the football game went, and I interviewed Stuart Schmidt, whom was the captain of the flag football team, to get his perspective on how the game went and how the hole session went over all.
Tyler: How do you think the homecoming game went for you and the team?
Stuart: The first game, we came out strong, but our motivation soon diminished. The first game was a little disappointing because I felt like not all of us on the field were not giving it all we had and putting in full effort. So before the second game, all of us as a team came to the conclusion as a team that if each of us is willing to sacrifice ourselves and give it all we had, no matter how much it hurts, no how tiring it is to keep sprinting and to get back up after you fail, and we finished the game strong with several touchdowns, and it felt amazing even though we lost.
Tyler: That’s great, that’s great so glad to hear that your teammates realized we were in this situation and decided to make the best of it, which is truly what new way is all about never ever giving up. What do you think was the biggest struggle for the team?
Stuart: I think the biggest struggle was getting past that pain barrier and understanding that the game will be over in an hour or so and just getting past the blockage in your mind that doesn’t want to do what’s hard and what’s to quit and understand that you were not doing it for yourself, but you’re doing it for the team as a hole. In the first game, I felt like they were lying purely on motivation and how good we felt and us basing our performance off that. But in the second game, our mindset changed to just, no matter how we feel, we will push it and endure to the end.
Tyler: That is great and you kind of already mentioned it, but what do think was the team’s greatest strength?
Stuart: The greatest strength I think of the team was unity and endurance, because none of us would have prevailed with that sort of endurance if we hadn’t realized that it wasn’t for our own good but for the team as a whole. Kind of pushing yourself for the greater good is what really propelled the team forward.
Tyler: That’s Great. How do you think the flag football session went overall?
Stuart: Even though we won one game, the flag football session was amazing because it was the first flag football session we have had new way and I felt like every week that past we were progressing. What mattered most to me was progress, not wins.
Tyler: That’s awesome, even if you’re loosing, you can still build on that progress.
Stuart: Exactly, learn from our mistakes. One other thing that happened in the second game that happened is that often in sports if you mess up or do something embarrassing, which I do quite a bit I tend to beat down on yourself and just think about the past even as your playing about how you messed up but the second what I did, and I encouraged my teammates to is instead of getting down on myself I would channel that into motivation so like after being embarrassed I would just channel that energy and get back on the field and I would give me a source of energy even when I was tired which was amazing.
Tyler: Ya, that is awesome that is absolutely incredible that even though we don’t have the team with the most wins, I do believe we have the flag football team with the most heart
Stuart: Oh ya, for sure
Tyler: Also, That is great that the flag football team still had fun, and that concludes the interview. Thanks for letting me interview you, Stuart.
Stuart: Thank you too
Next, I decided to Interview Ms. McCann, who oversaw setting up and planning the event, over Email about the homecoming dance and what she thought of it.
Tyler: How do you think the dance went?
Ms. McCann: I think overall the dance went well! There were plenty of students inside and outside, some dancing, many taking pictures at the photo booth, and some floating around socializing.
Tyler: Were there any unexpected issues?
Ms. McCann: There were not any unexpected issues the night of the dance, it all went pretty smoothly!
Tyler: What do you think can be improved for prom?
Ms. McCann: For prom, we will work on incorporating more activities for students that are not interested in dancing and not interested in the loud music. We will have more games set up so that everyone can have a great time.
Tyler: How do you think the dance represented New Way?
Ms. McCann: I think the dance represented how our students are all so unique yet can come together as a community to enjoy an evening of fun. Some people chose to wear costumes, some chose more formal attire, each showcasing their individuality.
& Shout out to my 4th Period event planning class! The talents of the event planning crew were represented around the room, from Hannah’s homemade coffin, to Tyler’s execution of the monster mouth entrance, they did a great job.
Overall, Homecoming week was fun! I’m proud of our flag football team for trying their best, and the spooky soirée turned out to be a blast. As someone who has been at new way for a long time, there is no other week at school like homecoming week.
