Home of the Warriors, Wausau West has been educating students and entertaining the community for over 50 years with top notch programs and an outstanding reputation. We the students, however, see our school in a different light and recognize its distinct personality. These are some things that many of us encountered on the regular during our time at West.

1. Conflict Res

Okay, this could be super fast and easy and we could all get to go to lunch together after, or I could be stuck at the end of a music conflict line and probably starve to death while waiting. But if I can manage to move my mod 20-21 class...

2. Staying Through Mod 21 EVERY day.

We definitely do that. Every single day, no matter what. Even if it’s senior year and we’re done with class at 12:40. We wouldn’t want to break the rules, now would we?

3. Saying you’re going to skip a class and then not actually skipping the class.

It’s just so easy. Nobody will question where I am if I don’t show up to calc for one day. But do I really want to deal with the attendance office? Oh screw it, I’ll go get a cookie and just go.

4. Accidentally skipping class.

OH MY GOD I SWEAR I THOUGHT IT WAS THURSDAY PLEASE DON'T MARK ME ABSENT

5. Van Man

Everyone tries, and honestly, few fail. But oh, is it a bitter day when you do.

6. Ma in the commons

I’ve asked what Ma’s real name is, and nobody’s actually been able to tell me. I had to look in the yearbook for that one. Anyways, she's kind of a commons staple. It feels empty in there when she's gone.

7. “How is your homeroom teacher about attendance?”

Are they super strict about showing up right at the bell or is it more of a ‘show up sometime before mod 1’ type of deal? You’ve got a 50/50 shot when it comes to which one you land Freshman year.

8. Considering all your lunch options, and then taking pizza for the third day in a row.

It could be worse, and there are just so many nacho days. Besides, I took a cup of pineapple. I’m healthy.

9. “You can eat in class?” -anybody from another school

Well, yeah, when else are we supposed to eat? You think I have an open lunch mod every day??? HA.

10. Going to the writing lab or IMC for two mods JUST to avoid walking downstairs and then right back up again.

The writing lab is a wonderful and magical place, that just so happens to allow its inhabitants to show any sign of having a personality, a thought on their mind OTHER than their history reading, or dare I say normal human life. Although personally, I just preferred to go English-teacher-office-hopping.

11. Fit Lab

OK, in the grand scheme of things, we have it pretty easy as far as gym requirements go. Fit lab isn't awful, it's just the idea of it that is painful. Either way, I showed up to my last day of fit lab with a donut. True story.

12. Trying to go to the school store. Key word: Trying.

But the one mod you can make it in on Tuesdays, it’s closed. And you forget every week that you can’t go that mod and you just get all heartbroken every single time.

13. Never being able to find the right rhythm for walking down the auditorium steps

One step per stair makes you feel like you’re leaping towards the front row, but if you take two steps you’re waddling like an oompa-loompa. There’s no win here. Let’s just all sit in the back again. They gave Steckbauer a microphone, we don't need to be that close.

14. The music and theatre kids freaking out every couple of months.

Most of the student body doesn’t know exactly when the shows and concerts are, but every few months the climate changes and 'that crowd' starts acting like it’s a full moon. That usually means there’s a performance drawing near. And if people are leaving class in tears, it’s either tech week or pop concert season.

15. Senior Shootout.

Teachers and the administration hate it. But for once, that doesn’t actually matter one bit. When shootout season roles around, we all are blessed with endless 'if you put as much effort into my class as you put into shootout...' speeches -- which to be fair, are totally accurate. Just study on stake out and you can still nail all your AP tests. #ParkedInForThe5

*no children were harmed in the making of this GIF

16. The Blue Crew

AKA an excuse for the hockey team to take their shirts off in front of the student body and not get dress coded.

17. Hick Row = Off Limits

Just stay out. The second and third rows of the student lot are closer anyways.

18. A Strict Activities Code

You can’t accuse West of cutting its top athletes and performers a break when it comes to expectations, grades, and behavior. You violate the code, you’re out. Period.

19. High Key Hating on Wausau East

The Lumberjacks must be busy dreaming about pancakes during the log games. We all feel a bit of shame when one of our teachers becomes a ‘defector’.

20. Low Key Hating D.C. Everest

“West is the best, East is the least, Everest is just a bunch of trees.”

21. The Old Warrior Mascot

Or as I like to say, the newest edition to "The Emporer's New Groove."

22. The New Warrior Mascot

Okay, Ms. Derrick looks a bit more menacing now. Sure, it probably cost about as much as the fall musical, but who doesn't love a person probably sweating their brains out to distract the other team?

23. “And Hey, Be A Warrior Today.”

The day wouldn’t start out right without the famous greeting from our fearless leader (or one of his right-hand-office-women). Once a warrior, always a warrior.

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