Once a vibrant celebration filled with costumes, decorations, and a palpable sense of excitement, Buena students seem to have lost their spark. The beginning of October has not had any students as excited for the idea of its upcoming, classical holiday, Halloween.
Instead of planning elaborate costumes or participating in Halloween-themed events, students are treating this holiday like any other day. The lack of enthusiasm is noticeable in the hallways and classrooms, where the buzz of Halloween excitement is absent.
“I just don’t feel the same excitement for Halloween this year,” junior Alexia Granados said. “Now that I’m a junior, it feels like everyone is too busy with school work and other commitments. I haven’t even thought about what costume to wear.”
The pressure to perform well in school and participate in various activities leaves little room for fun and creativity that Halloween usually brings, and now, seemingly fading away.
“There’s just so much going on right now,” Granados said. “Between working with three AP classes, dance practices, and home activities, there is hardly any time and energy to be in the spirit.”
Not only that, but the feeling of being judged plays a big role in a person’s way of celebration. In a culture where social media and peer approval hold considerable influence, students have shied away from dressing up or engaging in Halloween events.
For example, Buena’s traditional Halloween spirit day of allowing students to dress up with their costume of choice, was unsuccessful, leaving a sum of kids to fully express themselves. Currently, students have fallen into the trend of “fitting in” with each other rather than deliberately revealing their engagement.
“It is unsurprising seeing a few students who are truly dressed up in their Halloween costumes,” junior Maria Mendez said. “For as long as I can remember, it has always been like this since I entered high school.”
For some students and their families, Halloween is seen as a holiday for notorious kids and having a sweet tooth. Many can’t be seen to celebrate Halloween as they evolve into young adults.
“If I was younger again, I would have cared more about Halloween and dressing up,” junior Camila Fonseca said. “But, now that I’m older, even going trick-or-treating is embarrassing for a sixteen year old begging for candy.”
As a result, these students may choose not to participate in Halloween festivities, leading to a more subdued atmosphere at school. The pressures of academic responsibilities, extracurricular activities, and social dynamics also leave less time and energy for participating in Halloween events.
However, not everyone agrees that the Halloween spirit is fading. Some students argue that the holiday is still very much alive, just celebrated differently. Senior King Alivez believes that the way students celebrate Halloween has evolved.
“We still enjoy Halloween, but we might do things like watch scary movies at home or have small get-togethers,” Alivez said. “It’s not that we don’t care about Halloween; we just celebrate it in ways that fit our current lifestyles, even if we don’t show it at school.”
High school students are at a stage where they are exploring their identities and may view Halloween as a childish activity. The decline in Halloween spirit among students highlights the increasing demands and pressures they face.
Despite the lack of enthusiasm, there is still time for a change in spirit to increase for students of all ages. Small gestures like decorating lockers with spooky stickers or bringing Halloween-themed snacks to share with friends will show that the holiday is not entirely forgotten.
