With the homecoming dance coming up on Sept. 28, Emerson Mavericks prepare for a night of fun with their friends. From attire to dinner to after parties, students have a lot of decisions to make and lots to look forward to on a night that only comes around once a year.
Reflecting the theme, this year’s dance will feature all sorts of underwater decor such as jellyfish, clam shells, and blue toned overhead lighting to create an ocean-like effect.
“I’m so excited for the six-foot whale that’s going to be hanging from the ceiling,” Mutong Niu, 11, said. “And there’s going to be a glow in the dark tunnel that we walk in from, and I’m excited to see that with the projections.”
While for many students, the thought of homecoming may initially bring forth an image of the cafeteria transformed into a dance floor, the celebrations often begin before they even show up at the dance.
“I love getting ready with my friends, so we’ll all go to one house,” Niu said. “Then we’ll play music and talk and just have fun while getting ready.”
Once outfits are completed and hair is styled, many Mavericks head out with their groups to popular places around town such as Adriatica Village, Legacy West and Watters Creek for food and photos.
“We’re going to find a good place to take pictures,” William Pantuso, 11, said. “We did Adriatica last year. I think we’re going back there again.”
Preparing for homecoming, however, isn’t always smooth and easy. Whether it’s hairstyles or where to eat, with so many decisions to make, it can take a couple of weeks to get all the details just right.
“A struggle I’ve faced was finding the right suit to wear because a lot of the guys will pick the same colors,” Pantuso said.
Despite the challenges the dance presents, Mavericks look back at homecoming from last year with fond memories.
“We ate dinner and we took pictures at Legacy West,” Niu said. “It’s really fun because I have my own professional camera, so we all take photos and then I get to edit them.”
Each year, the homecoming dance also has photo opportunities throughout the school that reflect the theme. Last year’s theme was Hollywood.
“I really liked the red carpet theme…I also had a very eccentric outfit,” KK Kennedy, 10, said. “I had sparkly shoes and a fedora hat.”
In addition to a fun theme, Emerson Leadership made some changes to the layout of the dance last year to make it more enjoyable for a wide range of students.
“I loved that our school was able to be a little different from others in the fact that we not only had a dance floor, but we also had the quad,” Niu said. “If you wanted to get away from the music for a little bit … you could hang out and play cards with your friends.”
Leadership’s experiment with these quad games turned out to be a big hit among students, leaving them looking forward to the new activities this homecoming may include.
“It kept people engaged,” Fariha Shadiq, 11, said. “I think it makes you want to be there for longer when the only thing there is to do is just stand around and dance,”
Last year’s activities included karaoke, video games and playing cards as well as an additional photo opportunity in the quad.
I’m really curious to see what the games will be like,” Shadiq said. “Last year they were themed around casinos, so I want to know what’s going to be themed around the ocean.”
Between the planning and the anticipation of the day itself, homecoming can be a stressful yet thrilling experience. In the end, it allows students to catch a break from their school work and make some lasting memories.
“You don’t get a lot of fancy events to go to, especially in high school,” Kennedy said. “It will be fun to just hang out with friends.”
