Coming from the forgotten state of Kansas to an out of state school is already a rite of passage. I always wait for the "Kansas?!" followed by the "where in Kansas??" then the other person admitting they don't know anyone in Kansas anyways and it always ends with some sort of Wizard of Oz reference that has lost any humor after the millionth time. No, I am not Dorothy, no I do not own a pair of red slippers and yes, I know there is no place like home because at least at home in Kansas people don't refer to a yellow brick road in every introduction. That being said, coming from a tiny dot on a map in a town that is primarily made of one red light, a Sonic and three neighborhoods, Spring Hill, Kansas is a place more notable than being from the whole state of Kansas in general. There are 10 telltale signs that you're an alum of having to wear purple and gold, and you refer to yourself as a Bronco for life.
10. "Make it a great day or not: The Choice is Yours"
The motto we heard over announcements, at the end of assemblies, or yelled sarcastically at your back as you were walking to class. Principal Fleer started the mantra that haunts former Spring Hill High School students when it's time for class on a Monday, or when they get stuck in traffic and already doubt where the day is headed. His motto was if nothing admirable and definitely memorable.
9. The Girls' Soccer Team
While our football team ended with a disappointing outcomes at times, our girls' soccer team was notorious for being unapologetically the best. The bleachers would overflow and the girls proudly flipped their hair to reveal their soccer number on the back of their jerseys in class. The girls knew they were good, and told anyone that would listen whatever team they were playing next was going to lose. No one doubted them.
8. Bosco Stick Day Was Not A Joke
When lunch was dismissed on the days that Bosco Stick was bolded on the menu, it was borderline terrifying the lengths people went to ensure their place first in line. Seniors shoved freshman aside, freshman tried to slide under people's feet and no one was safe from being called out for cutting the line. Bosco Stick day was a safety hazard if you wanted to make it out of the lunch line.
7. The Spirit Competitions
Pep rallies were ideal because you got out of your classes faster, and got to spend an hour gossiping about the other grades in the bleachers. However, when it was time to be awarded the points that each grade fought for, it was a less-friendly competition and more of a passive aggressive war between the grades.
6. Sonic
When you only have one primary source of fast food, it's no surprise that's where everyone would flock. Whether it was before a football game, after school swinging into the parking lot for happy hour, or in the summer when you were trying to scope out that cute boy you haven't seen in months: everyone went to sonic for more than a chili cheese coney.
5. The Bronco Statue
The unveiling of this bronze statue rendered silence among everyone huddled outside to see what was supposed to be a large and burly bronco. Instead, it looked like a miniature steel horse you could find harmlessly milling around at a petting zoo. It became the late night spot to jump on, and take pictures with your best friends pretending to be delinquents climbing on our school's proud structure.
4. The Boys That Revved Their Engine In The Parking Lot
Every morning, you could count on a group of oversized trucks to peel into the parking lot to skid across the empty lanes with a less than impressive engine. It was always too early for that kind of behavior.
3. The Dip
It became a notorious problem when people shoved chew in their lip and casually would spit it out in the middle of history class with little attempts of hiding it. There was always the dip can in the back pocket that gave it away.
2. Purple and Gold
...means nothing about LSU for Spring Hill High School Alum. It was our school colors for four long years and that's all that comes to mind when people mention the awful pairing of the two colors.
1. Prom in the Cafeteria, Homecoming was Casual
Spring Hill High School did a lot of things differently from other schools, but our functions always fell short of expectations. It came to be something accepted and known.
