Community at Stuy: How Students Feel about School Spirit

Every October, the hallways fill with excitement as students prepare themselves for Stuyvesant’s annual Spirit Week. Each day, students are encouraged to dress up following a unique theme, decided by votes through a Google Form sent out from the Student Union beforehand. This year, the selected themes were Pajama Day, Twin Day, Jersey/Sports Day, and Stuyloween. 

Stuyvesant’s school spirit isn’t rooted in sports culture and large school-wide events, as it traditionally is. Instead, it is often viewed as a school where students focus heavily on academic performances. “There's something about the culture of the school that promotes ambition,” AP Environmental Science teacher Jerry Citron commented.

There is often no consensus on what school spirit at Stuyvesant is like, as it manifests in different ways for different students. Some discuss academics, some discuss clubs, and some discuss friendships. Senior Danny Akhmedov said, “You don’t really feel so much pressure to conform here. I’m grateful I can be in a place like that.” Students can express their school spirit without suppressing their individuality.

Spirit Week is a time where Stuyvesant students get to participate in more traditional school spirit. “This year, I participated in Twin Day. I share two classes with my friends that I matched with and it was nice when people and teachers noticed that we matched and complimented us. Not only matching outfits, but also choosing what to wear and making plans together were a huge part of it. It was such a good bonding experience that I could share with my friends,” sophomore Wenxin Zhang expressed. “Stuyloween was really cool too. The costumes were amazing and even some of the teachers participated, like one of my teachers dressed up as a dog. I really enjoyed seeing them in a funny costume instead of their usual formal fits,” Zhang said. 

Although many students enjoyed participating in Spirit Week, others were less enthusiastic. “It never really seemed like something that interested me, and it always seemed less significant than Halloween since it’s an entire week of dressing up instead of a day that you look forward to for the entire year. I’ve never cared for it because there’s no justification for it, and unlike Halloween, I don’t find anything unique/fun about it,” junior Ray Lattapongpisut said. 

In addition, some students were also dissatisfied with the themes that won the majority votes. “I liked the themes we did have during spirit week, but I personally think the themes on the Google Form were better. The cultural day was good,” sophomore Noishin Sayiras expressed.

Some students have already started to brainstorm fresh ideas for next year. “I would like some new themes next year. I would like to do bring anything but your backpack day ‘cause everyone wears the same regular backpacks which is kind of boring, and I want to see people with backpacks that really show their personality and creativity,” Zhang mentioned. 

On top of different themes, students believe there are more potential ways to increase participation. Some emphasized the importance of promotion. “It could be announced better so more people are aware of it,” Lattapongpisut said. 

While Spirit Week encourages students to engage in fun high school activities, students argue that Stuyvesant’s unique traditions play a much larger role in shaping the school’s identity. “I don’t think it contributes too much to Stuyvesant’s spirit itself […] I think things we do personally or Stuyvesant traditions such as Boograms contribute the most,” Sayiras argued. 

Nevertheless, Spirit Week stands as a unique opportunity to bring students together and strengthen school spirit. Whether through matching outfits with friends, admiring outstanding costumes, or simply enjoying the lively atmosphere, the week allows students to create everlasting memories and connect with the entire school community.