Homecoming

Everyone knows what Homecoming is. Homecoming is that time in the fall during the week of some home football game where all the alumni from years past gather for a weekend. The entire week leading up to the game is filled with spirited activities, such as dress up days, a pumpkin drop, tug-of-war, a car-bashing contest, and of course, a jersey auction. All of these things have great causes behind them. For example, the money my school makes off of the jersey auction goes to the Make A Wish Foundation. The rest of these activities usually incorporate teamwork and "people" skills. On the day of the game, there is a pep rally. The pep rally usually entails the seniors playing some sort of fun game, the pep band playing some loud, energizing tunes, and the seniors of their respective sports saying a little about how the season has gone and what the team's goals are for the rest of the year. Of course, what everyone waits for is the crowning of the homecoming king and queen. After the game, the candidates gather at midfield, and the attendants are announced. When the king and queen are announced, the crowd usually goes crazy and everyone congratulates the candidates.
Now, everyone makes a huge deal out of homecoming, but the question is, why? The whole point of homecoming is to gather former classmates together. But all that is really focused on is becoming king or queen. This “popularity contest” brings more drama than necessary to the already stressful week. The girls usually make a bigger deal out of this than guys typically do, however I think that removing the king and queen contest from the week entirely would allow for a more enjoyable evening at the football game, as well as throughout the entire week.