There are many changes this year due to an unfathomable virus that I’m sure many people in this school are tired hearing the name of. One of the things that this virus has affected were many of this school’s events, including this year’s Homecoming week. Despite the fact that there was no band, no parade, no tailgate party, no dance, or no powderpuff, I still found the night to be filled with the old-fashioned and fun school spirit Homecoming nights are known for.

I started the night by entering the gate’s entrance with my camera case in one hand and Dutch Bros. drink in the other. I wasn’t completely sure if outside beverages were allowed in the event, so my sister and I contemplated as to whether or not we should hide them underneath her jacket. We took a chance last minute, and placed our drinks in plain view, only to learn that they wouldn’t care what we brought into the venue. What they did care about however was that my sister was attempting to go in for free alongside me since I was on the yearbook team, and my position in the class meant I could go into the game unpaid. After forking over five dollars, we both began to go our separate ways, before acknowledging the loud presence in the stadium.

The game wasn’t due to start until seven in the evening, but by six forty-six, the match between Centennial and Nelson was already in full swing. The two of us were yet to go to a full-fledged football game here at Centennial at that point, mainly due to home game cancellations that were already present in the season. The opening game of the up-and-coming school year took place before actual classes started, and I had no obligation at that point to capture moments in time for games, which meant no primary reason to go. What we were welcomed for our first game however, was a large array of boosterism, mainly due to the motivated students and overzealous parents filling the stands. We witnessed all this while guidelines and regulations were properly in place. I saw it as an agreeable balance between academic wide inspiration and attentive safety concerning all game attendees.

Once the game’s halfway point reached, the Homecoming royalty nominees walked onto the football field, each with the hopes that they would be crowned as this year’s queen and king, while the crowd eagerly anticipated the results. I was happy for my peers that had been crowned, and took celebratory pictures once the performance was over. Nelson High School even offered to have their dance team do a momentary performance for us after learning about our cancellations. However, once the dance team stepped off the track’s lines, everyone in the crowd was filled with a unanimous ambience where we each asked ourselves “Now what?”

There was still time to fill with twelve minutes left of halftime, and audience members in past years would take this chance to check out what the different clubs were selling behind the bleachers, or listen to music the band would decide to play then. I however took this opportunity to take photos of the student body for the homecoming spread on the yearbook. This decision would end up getting me nearly knocked over by the football team as they stormed back onto the field while I tried to take snapshots of the cheer team right on the cusp of halftime’s end. By the end of the night, I had taken approximately 150 photos purely from student group prompts, and continued to receive requests to take them on the football field well after the game ended.

And so, despite the various cancellations and the inconvenient moments at times, Homecoming still found itself containing the eventful and entertaining atmosphere that it’s always been associated with. Would I have still preferred us having an evening with food, live music, and fireworks like previous years? Without a doubt. But for the limitations we had, and the obligation placed onto us in order to ensure the safety of everyone in the school, I found it to be a pretty worthwhile event. I only hope that by this time next year, the usual format goes back in place, and this year’s underclassmen can thrive in an environment without paranoia and fear.