Whenever I attend games at Pasco High, I can’t help but wonder, “Why does only 50% of the student section actually participate?” The student section is roughly split in half: 50% cheer and engage, while the other 50% remain quiet and focused on their phones. Are they nervous or too shy to cheer for their school? If so, why stand in the student section at all? This area is meant for cheering and being loud in support of our team, not for sitting quietly and scrolling through devices. Everyone at Pasco High should want to come to the games—not just to cheer on the Bulldogs, but to show school spirit and have a good time.
Supporting our school involves cheering for the teams, attending events, and dressing up according to themes. It’s not just about going to school; even just attending games shows support. Students should be proud to be Pasco Bulldogs, not ashamed. Every game should see the student section filled with purple and white as we cheer on the Bulldogs through every minute. We should be loud, standing up, and fully engaged—not sitting down and on our phones. The student section should reflect pride and school spirit.
Back in the 2000s, Pasco’s student section was packed from top to bottom, filled with students dressed for the theme, all cheering passionately for Pasco. Now, the section is only half-filled, with just some students participating and a few dressing up for themes.
Do students not know about the events, or are they choosing to stay home instead of supporting their school? Does Pasco need to promote these events more proactively, or do students need to take the initiative to spread the word? Either way, students should be asking staff and peers, “When is the next game?” or “When is the next event?” Everyone should want to know when these games are happening so they can rally together to fill the student section and cheer for the Pasco Bulldogs. It doesn’t matter whether we win or lose; school spirit is about showing up and supporting our teams.
I believe that if students are not busy, they should attend games with pride and cheer for their teams, no matter the outcome. Pasco should aim to have the best school spirit and student section in the Mid-Columbia Conference (MCC). As I mentioned, in the 2000s, our student section was the best in the MCC, filled from top to bottom with enthusiastic students dressed according to themes. It should be like that today, with students in the section being loud and proudly dressed for the themes.
To implement this change at our school, we need to advertise the games more effectively, spread the word, or even set up pep rallies so students are informed about upcoming games, their themes, and the importance of cheering for the Pasco Bulldogs throughout the game. Our student section has the potential to be the best we’ve ever seen, but making that happen relies on students spreading the word, showing up dressed for the themes, and standing together in the student section, proud to be Pasco Bulldogs.
