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Unity in East Ridge?
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By Rachel Alvarez
While most people would agree that East Ridge is a wonderful, brand new school, it is obvious that some students would rather not be here. The rivalries between schools, particularly between Woodbury High and East Ridge, are making it difficult for students here. When asked about why and when the rivalry started, most students agree that the first East Ridge-Woodbury football game was a key event. This is when it really became apparent that former Woodbury High students weren’t on the same side as some of their friends anymore. Things were said, East Ridge lost, and several people took it very personally. There are students who are even being shunned by their supposed friends just because they now attend East Ridge. Being a teenager is already a somewhat awkward and difficult time. The only thing pulling some people through is the support from their friends. Take that support away, and those people collapse.
As it turns out, despite the rivalries between the two schools, most people are on the same page. When asked her opinion about East Ridge High, Amy Smith, a junior at Woodbury High said, “I would love to go to East Ridge only because my friends go there. I hate that the school board separated the people I’ve been with since first grade.” What she said is exactly true. They took away everything our students have ever known. As children, most people grew up knowing they were going to become a Royal. It was a sense of pride they all shared. Their older sisters and brothers were royals and it was understood that they would eventually be a part of it. Suddenly taking that all away, it is obvious why this transition has been a difficult one for many students.
One student had an especially strong opinion about this rivalry. She made a point by saying that school is generally not a sought after activity. As most students wake up and realize that they have to go to school, it’s primarily not an excited or happy thought that follows. It’s confusing why people care so much about what school they attend, or the new things one school has and another one doesn’t, when fundamentally, they’re just waiting until they can go home. School, no matter which one they attend, will only make up a small fraction of a person’s life. Even though the time they spend here is important, it is certainly not something to dwell over constantly for the next two or more years. While the administration is pondering over the lack of school spirit, many students are still trying to adjust. Hopefully as the months go on, East Ridge will finally be able to achieve their prevailing goal of “UNITY.”
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January 5th, 2010 at 2:39 pm
The reason this school has no unity is because everyone is rejecting it. Why wouldn’t you attempt to make new friends we have combined two schools with a rivalry so what we are one now. All our other loyalty to our previous schools are dead we don’t go there anymore. The sooner we realize this and become one school will be more enjoyable.
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February 9th, 2010 at 11:41 am
I like how nothing in here is about Park High School. Its TWO schools that came together. Park and woodbury not East Ridge and Woodbury.
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February 27th, 2010 at 1:34 pm
she’s got a point. East Ridge is made up of two different schools, if your going to right about how most kids dont get along, you might want to include Park High school in the story also.
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