An Open Note To Our Rivals

Tonight is senior night for the marching band, for our cheerleaders, for our color guard, and for our pommers. Tonight is our last regularly scheduled home game, and it is also our game against our rivals.

Historically, our rival hood hasn't always been a healthy one. In a regular environment, a rival hood is good. Gets the school spirit up, gets people excited for the games, gives us something to talk about. But ours isn't good; you spray painted our buildings, egged our students, chant insulting things at our games during recognition ceremonies. Sure, we're not innocent in it either, but here's the thing: this isn't okay. This is childish and rude and so ridiculous; we're high schoolers, not immature idiots.

Tonight I will walk across the field with my parents by my side, after four years of dedication and hard work, after four years of spending 17 hours days at school making it easier for everyone in marching band. After two years of standing in front of the band, leading and conducting and fixing problems. Two years of going home from practices either unbelievably happy or reduced to tears from the frustration and the mean words; either way, absolutely exhausted. Two years of spending practices and games running and conducting until I couldn't raise my arms. Two years of holding hands, wiping tears, giving advice, and solving conflicts.

Tonight I will walk across the field; tonight is the night I've been looking forward to, working towards for four years. Today is the day I've been dreaming of, what I've thought will be one of the highlights of my senior year, and I'm worried that the student section of our rivals won't respect our senior night. And I can honestly say that I will be devastated if they don't. Maybe it would be different if I didn't work so hard, sacrifice so much, for four years. Maybe it would be different if I wasn't so dedicated to marching band. I will be devastated because I, and everyone else walking tonight, deserve respect. We deserve respect not even because of our achievements but because we're human beings.

Please... please please please be respectful tonight. Be respectful of every senior who has spent four years dedicated to our school, the way you respect your seniors.

Please.

R