This year’s fall pep rally felt less like a rally and more like a lukewarm assembly. The energy was off, the fun was missing and the “pep” felt like it had taken an early holiday. Sure, pep rallies have always been a little cringeworthy — who doesn’t squirm a bit while doing a choreographed team dance in front of the entire school? But that shared awkwardness was part of the magic. It was the moment when teams could showcase their creativity, bond with their teammates and entertain everyone, all while celebrating the sports that bring our community together.
Traditionally, the Branson girls volleyball team would spend about a week choreographing a dance. It was silly, yes, but also hilarious and fun. This year we were told about the rally just three days in advance and instructed to run everything by Frances Dillon, the director of athletics, if we still wanted to participate.
Instead of team dances, the new format involved … fun facts. That’s right: on the spot, everyone had to share a random fact about themselves in front of a half-engaged audience. If that sounds excruciatingly lame, trust me — it was.
Why the sudden change? According to Riley Pearson, one of the athletic ambassadors, the school is “moving away from performances because the freshmen and underclassmen are getting hazed a little too much.”
Look, I get it — hazing is no joke, and if it’s genuinely causing harm, it should absolutely be addressed. But not all traditions are created equal. On the volleyball team, our dances never singled anyone out. They were about collaboration, laughter and creating something fun and silly as a group.
What makes this situation even more sad is that the pep rally is just one symptom of a bigger issue: Branson’s spirit is in freefall. My ninth-grade year, the stands for volleyball games used to be packed on both sides, with everyone decked out and jumping around. Now, it feels like we’re lucky if the bleachers are half full. The vibe isn’t just off at the pep rally — it’s everywhere.
So, what happened? Is it the stricter rules, the shorter notice or just an overall decline in enthusiasm? Whatever it is, it needs to change. Pep rallies are supposed to bring us together, not bore us to tears.
If we want to revitalize Branson’s school spirit, it’s time to reintroduce the fun. Instead of axing performances entirely, how about putting guardrails in place to ensure they’re inclusive and safe? Give teams more time to prepare and let them showcase their creativity again. If hazing is a concern, address it directly; don’t punish everyone with boring alternatives.
The truth is, if we keep stripping away the things that make these events memorable, we will lose the point of having them in the first place. Pep rallies should be about school pride and celebrating each other. As a senior, I find it so disappointing to see how much spirit we’ve lost, and something needs to change.
