File photo
A student waves a Texas flag in front of the annual bonfire. the bonfire was a tradition until 2021, and has not been done since then.
Texas High School is known for being rich with tradition and student culture. Students express excitement for several annual events on campus each year, but what about the traditions that have been lost over the years? Traditions like the bonfire pep rally that haven’t been practiced since the 2021-2022 school year have been forgotten by the student body.
The original purpose of the bonfire pep rally was to celebrate the football team for making it to the playoffs. Still, it also doubled as a night of reflection for seniors as they reflect on their past years of school and prepare for their future away from Texas High.
Traditions like this help to create a safe and exciting environment for students at our school. I think it’s essential to keep up traditions and not let them get swept away by the passage of time. Without tradition, our school becomes dull. Nothing keeps the students waking up and returning to school if they don’t have something to look forward to. I’m sure many students would love to bring back some old traditions within the main student body and some smaller, more selective traditions.
For example, the Texas High Boys Swim Team upheld the tradition of bleaching their hair before the district meet and shaving it before the regional meet. Somewhere throughout the years, this tradition was lost, and now there’s something rich in culture that is missing from the team.
Other Texas High sports teams have unique traditions that they uphold and are important to the teams’ culture. There are also clubs on campus with traditions that are dear to them. The Rosebuds Annual Initiation Tea is a perfect example of a tradition that would make the club a completely different experience if stopped. Every year, the excited new rosebuds join for tea and to be initiated into the official club. This exciting tradition creates a fun memory for all incoming rosebuds that they can share and pass on for many years.
Overall, Texas High has had its fair share of traditions that don’t get the same spotlight as they did before. Students should take action and create new traditions or renew old ones if they are seeking change.