Convention season is a sacred time for many member of the Junior Classical League, who gather once a year to celebrate all things classics with competitions of both the intellectual and sporting variety. This is a time when these students remember that the classics are far from dead and are ever present in our daily lives. JCL state convention is something that cannot be described accurately unless one experiences it for him/herself. This offers a little peek into 50 of the things that goe through the minds of these students throughout this whirlwind of a weekend that involves Latin cheers, hardly any sleep and a love for all things classics.

On the first day:

1. Woah, this hotel is a maze!

2. Will I ever be able to find my way around?

3. I just really want to take this stuff to my room.

4. How long does it take to get registered? These bags are killing me!

5. Ah yes, there’s my nametag, better not lose this. Don’t want to dance in front of everyone.

6. Wait, where’s our fellowship room? And how do I get there?

7. How much time do we have until Spirit? Hopefully we’ll place this time…

8. *while yelling incomprehensible Latin during Spirit* I hope I’m saying this right.

During GA:

9. We get it, you can’t start campaigning until after nom-com.

10. Concerning roll call skits: that one was DEFINITELY put together on the way here…

11. Gotta love those spirit fingers!

12. When do we get food? I’m starving!

On the second day:

13. Ugh! I have to get up already? But I just fell asleep!

During Testing:

14. I’m going to take all the tests this year!

15. Oh wait, I’ve changed my mind… maybe I’ll do that next year.

16. Definitely acing this vocab one right now.

17. Oh no, is this answer A or C? I swear they’re both right.

18. *insert test here* is definitely not my strongest subject… why did I bother taking it?

19. My Latin teacher would be so proud of me right now.

During GA2:

20. Those officers look kinda stressed. I wonder how much sleep they got.

21. *While candidates give speeches* I get it, you want to be an officer, but please stop talking. Lunch is soon and I’m really hungry.

During the afternoon:

22. Uh oh, I lost my convention buddy. Where’d they go? They were just here!

23. What time are the seminars? They all look so interesting!

24. Ah! A SCLer! Back away, back away slowly. Maybe they won’t see me.

25. *meets someone from other school* Hey, you’re pretty cool, I like you.

26. CERTAMEN!

While playing Certamen:

27. Does anyone even know that?

28. There’s no way we talked about any of those things in class.

29. *answering a question wrong with complete confidence* Sorry guys, I thought I knew that one…

30. *watching a match in a lower level* Why didn’t we get any questions like this?

Evening:

31. Everyone looks so funny in their togas.

32. But does mine look OK?

33. I highly doubt the Romans ate lasagna like this.

34. So many classics nerds in one place, I love it!

35. Our officers are weird and quirky and I love them!

36. That girl’s That’s Entertainment act was incredible! Who knew she could sing like that?

37. *During slave auction* I know this money’s going to charity, but can we really do this?

38. *During fellowship* Ok, we’ve voted, can I go to bed now? It’s definitely past my bedtime.

39. Seriously guys, I may just sleep right here instead if we don’t go soon.

On the final day:

40. Hold on, what do you mean I have to go home now? I’m not ready to leave yet.

The last GA:

41. Finally! They’re handing out awards.

42. That school definitely tried too hard during the Ludi events.

43. *when your name is called* Finally! I knew I aced that one!

44. Oh, that means I have to go get my ribbon now. Don’t trip, don’t trip.

45. HA! I knew *insert name* was just bragging about that test. They didn’t even place!

46. *spirit fingers wiggle ecstatically for friend who got an award*

48. Are the new officers actually going to say their names when they’re sworn in?

47. Didn’t think so. Maybe next year!

49. So close! I almost nailed all the words to the JCL song this time

50. *sigh* is it really already over?