Homecoming is a high school and college tradition throughout America that helps “welcome back” students and alumni.

Leesville hosts various traditions during Homecoming Week, including a pep rally, parade, tailgate, football game, spirit week, and dance.

Although a large number of Leesville students do not attend the Homecoming dance, they still end the week with getting dressed up.

There is another subsection of Homecoming, which includes activities not affiliated with Leesville — students pick a day to get dressed up, take pictures, go to dinner, and have an after party.

​A lot of American schools have dances that give students an excuse to dress up, take pictures, post on their socials, and have a fun time. Leesville students wanted to be a part of that, even if they didn’t have a dance to attend.

Students putting together their “own Homecoming” became a trend before Leesville started formally hosting a dance. Now that Leesville hosts a dance, there are still groups of students who do not attend the dance and put together a Homecoming outside of Leesville activities. 

As fun as putting together your own Homecoming sounds, it is very stressful to plan. Trying to find a day that works with everyone’s schedule, and making reservations, causes drama — an unfortunate part of Homecoming.

Victoria Hay, freshman, said, “Everyone’s getting ready with other people, and the plans are just so stressful to make.”

Making plans isn’t the only thing that causes stress in Homecoming. Organizing possible dates causes stress, drama, and a lot of emotions. 

A part of Homecoming is pairing up either as a friend or as a couple.  When having a date, students coordinate to match their ties and dresses, take pictures together, and more. 

In a lot of cases, different couples encourage their friends to find dates to pair up with — either as friends or as a couple, so the number of couples will be even — or close to even.

Prior to Homecoming Day, dates put together a “HOCO proposal”. A Homecoming proposal is an elaborate way to ask someone to be their Homecoming date. Most of the time, it comes with a catchy phrase written on a poster and flowers.

Hay was hoco-proposed by her boyfriend. The poster said, “Do you want to take a shot and tackle hoco with me?”

Some people have fun making the sign and enjoy having a sweet moment with their date.

Evan List, senior, plans to Homecoming propose to his girlfriend and states, “I kinda wanted to do it, it was a lot of fun.”

On the other hand, someone can feel pressure to make a sign for their date, and it’s a part of the Homecoming process.

Jake Bendell, senior, states, “I didn’t want to do it, but I did it so my date would be happy.”

Feeling as though you have to meet the expectations of the “standard trends of Homecoming” — having a date, making a Homecoming proposal, buying a certain dress — comes with a lot of stress, anxiety, and drama.

Since the 23-24 school year, Leesville has hosted their own dance.  A lot of Students still decide not to go to the dance because they think it won’t be as fun as what they have planned already. These students enjoy what the school puts together, like the football games, pep rally, parade, etc., but don’t want to go to the dance.

Tanner Rosner, junior, said, “I think the dance is kind of boring, and I think it’s a little corny.”

List doesn’t go to the dance because he would rather not have to think about school.

List said, “When we’re in school, we have to focus on our work and then full practices after school, but on the weekends we can just focus on our friends and give our full attention to them.”

As a student athlete, school, practice, and games can be stressful, and it’s fun for students to give themselves some time to relax over the weekend with their friends. Organizing their own Homecoming takes the pressure of school off their shoulders. 

The high school trend of skipping the school affiliated Homecoming, and putting together your own Homecoming has a fun side of it, but also, a stressful side of it. 

Maizy Bass, junior,  is excited for Homecoming day, especially the getting ready side of it. She said, “I’m excited to hang out with my friends and to get ready with them, and then to see everyone in their dresses.”

Following up to dressing up, taking pictures, going to dinner, and a fun after party is the build up to Homecoming night — Homecoming proposals, dress shopping, finding dates are all things students look forward to. 

Putting together their own Homecoming can bring students away from school pressure and let them be independent.