It is funny to think that just four short years ago, I was a freshman. Between those years, numerous things have changed since my first day here at De Soto High School. There are the more obvious things, like the new addition to the school, or the teachers that come and go each year. Traditions play a big role in shaping a society and allowing younger generations to better understand the older generations. DHS is lucky to be a school with a long background of traditions and heritage, and some of these traditions have been lost or forgotten as time goes on.

For instance, I remember my freshman year that people warned you not to go to the vending machines during lunch because the seniors would clap and cheer for you. Luckily, we stopped patronizing the poor students who just wanted to get some food, and no longer make targets out of those innocent people. I’m glad that we have managed to make DHS a more welcoming place in that regard.

Another tradition that most people are aware of, is that the seniors were previously able to paint their parking spots. Opinions aside, it is something we no longer do.

Then there are the small changes you might not know about unless you participated in that activity. My freshman year of band for example, I remember the seniors telling us about The Song, actually named Happy Days Are Here Again, and how no one was allowed to say the real name of the song or our football team would be cursed for the season. Personally, I think it was to cover up the fact that we did not have the best team a few years ago. However, the band collectively decided that the song really was not that good, and the whole idea behind it was a little ridiculous, so we no longer play that song during games.

However, one thing the band has kept is its tradition of doing “band aerobics” before the football players come on to the field. Additionally, the student section, dance team, band and cheerleaders all form a group and sway when the song Hey Baby is played at a game. To me, traditions like this are a cool way for the upper and underclassmen to connect.

There are also more recent traditions, like how for the past few years our first home football game was themed white out, and students blasted baby powder everywhere.

As different generations continue to pass through DHS, more and more traditions from our time will be lost. But at the same time, those students will be making new traditions of their own, moulding DHS into the best school it can be.