We're Checking Them Out - Julie Gross

We’re Checking Them Out

By Julie Gross

            Has anyone ever noticed we all check out other schools?

Sometimes we say, “Wow our school is way better. We have cooler stuff than they do. This place stinks.”

Or, “What? Why don’t we have this at our school?! But our school is still better.”

I am completely guilty of this, truth be told, we all are. Last week I checked out the other schools at the marching band competition we went to. First things first: check out the cute guys or girls. Of course no one ever asks these people out or even talks to them; it is just kind of fun to window shop. Then look at the rest of the people. Looking around at a big event like the marching festival made me realize we actually have a rather normal school. I saw people playing ninja in the parking lot (awkward), “playing football” but they couldn’t even catch it, let alone throw it (I don’t understand), running around chasing each other (just plain weird), and of course, disgusting couples (no).

 Next we compare things like buses, classrooms, libraries, etc. It is not fair when places like Manhattan or Junction City come to any of our events or we go to their schools because schools like this always have everything better than we do. I mean everything. Once we think we have something cool, big schools have had like 20 of the same thing for the last 3 years. They have entire fleets of fancy charter buses, really cool outdoor spaces for lunch/studying, massive libraries, and really cool schools in general. For band and choir kids, we always compare the auditorium/stage. We actually have a decent auditorium because some of the schools I have been to have their stage in their cafeteria. It is echo-y, has awful acoustics, and smells yesterday’s tacos.

But one things we most often compare is the locker room. Since most of us visit other schools for sports we always see the locker room. Let’s face it, it is not very hard to beat our locker rooms. They are basically ancient mold caverns. Another facility we compare is the cafeteria. I have seen some really cool cafeterias. There are cafeterias with amazing salad bars, ice cream or yogurt machines, and even an outdoor eating space. I am always jealous of the huge cafeterias with all these different food lines (mainly the ice cream machines).

We also compare bathrooms. It always makes me laugh when other schools’ bathrooms have their school insignia on everything. And I mean EVERYTHING. It’s on the toilet paper dispensers, paper towel dispensers, soap dispensers, trash cans, and the doors to the stalls. Not necessary! We get it! We are in your school, and that trash can belongs to you!  Even though there are some cool things at other schools Concordia still wins, of course. You could say our school has lots of character.