Saturday, October 14, 2023, this year’s homecoming for underclassmen was once again, hosted by Ursuline Dallas. Many things influenced the particular success of this years homecoming dance, most notably being the exceptional weather.
Starting the night at 7pm, students began to arrive. Initially, the dance floor was completely empty, as people were settling in and chatting with friends. Available activities such as spike-ball, jenga, and corn hole became popular with the crowd. Most people began to show up around 7:20 PM, as the entrances were closed off at 7:30pm.
Another popular activity were the poker tables, located inside the theatre. These tables quickly filled up with students around 7:45 PM and remained mostly occupied throughout the entire night. Sophomore Jimmy Nackley had this to say about the poker tables:
“I had a great time spending time with my fellow jesuit brothers and getting to know them better through a game of blackjack”
Alongside the poker tables in the theatre, there were tables with bowls of candy and a water station. The water station became a very useful spot as the intensity of the dance increased. Thank you to all the staff who refilled water cups throughout the night.
Around 8:30pm, the dance floor began to gain popularity. This was the highlight of most people’s nights. After a few songs, people were riled up enough to start a “mosh pit.” Sophomore Sebastian Suwanda quickly became the center of attention as he gathered the confidence to dance in the middle. His confidence encouraged many other students to join in, and from that point on everyone wanted to experience the mosh pit. Though there were instances where the force of the crowd would overpower certain individuals (bringing the mosh pit to a stop), it was certainly one of the most memorable moments of the night.
Some students were worried that the mosh pit would be overheating. However, the 68° weather made the experience much more enjoyable. The cool autumn winds minimized the heat of the mosh pit, making a “less sweaty” crowd. Freshman Maxwell Reynolds had this to say about the weather:
“The weather was awesome, a light breeze along with a little humidity never goes wrong. the calm wind really set the mood for an amazing hoco dance.”
Around 9:15pm, the dance floor began to settle down as the dance came to an end. However, for many people, the night had just begun. Students began to leave around 9:30 PM and left for their respective gatherings. Thank you to all the staff and volunteers who stayed late to put away all the games and clean.
For me personally, this year’s homecoming dance was an amazing experience. However, I wanted to know how other people felt about this years homecoming, so I asked a few underclassmen some questions:
Alexander Ramsey Interview
Which activity or game did you enjoy the most at this year’s homecoming dance?
“I had an amazing time at the poker tables. My attire resembled that of one of the Jesuit casino night dealers, and I decided to take some of my friends, sit down at a poker table, and just have some fun. And it worked out wonderfully. We all had an incredible time impulsively gambling with worthless chips and throwing jokes while we were at it.”
Is there anything that you believe could be improved on for next years dance?
“I think the number of game options and such should be expanded. While there were some options like poker, Jenga, and spike-ball, most lacked the ability to engage larger groups, something that would have been ideal for such a large social gathering.”
Ethan Irrobali Interview
What was your favorite part of the Homecoming Dance this year?
“I really liked the blackjack and other card tables that were offered to play. I also had a good time jumping around in the crazy mosh pit with my friends.”
As a sophomore this year, how did this year’s dance compare to last year?
“I enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed it last year, but I knew what to expect so I thought there was less uncertainty. However, this year I knew more people which helped make it a better and more comfortable experience.”
Gabe Gerik Interview
Which Jesuit theme do you think was most reflected during this year’s homecoming dance?
“I would say that the homecoming dance reflects the loving theme of the Jesuits profile because it was a chance for the Jesuit community to gather and enjoy spending time together.”
Overall, how would you rate your homecoming experience as a sophomore?
“Overall, my homecoming was pretty fun. It was cool wearing a suit and going to a nice dinner and then socializing with everyone at the event.”
Conclusion
I believe it’s safe to say that this year’s homecoming dance was an amazing experience. The dance not only fostered for Jesuit students to socialize and create new friendships but also for Ursuline and Jesuit students to socialize with one another.
Stay tuned to The Roundup for future news regarding Student Life!
