“This year doesn’t feel the same,” is a sentiment shared by many teachers and students. It can’t be denied that East Meck has changed a lot in the past few months.
The focus seems to be on changes by the administrators or the district. Many people complain about the introduction of a daily homeroom or the insitution of a stricter personal devices policy. In fact, many under-classman students have no idea that before the 2022-2023 school year, East’s bell time was 2:00, not 2:15. even the upperclassman who experienced the change firsthand have probably forgotten about it. The same applies for the introduction of metal detectors. Next year, the same will most likely be true of daily homeroom and the phone policy- not even worth mentioning.
However, some changes to East will not be so easily forgotten. The shift from Principal Rick Parker to Principal Steve Drye will be on student and teacher minds for at least a few years to come. This change is probably the one most people have in mind when they comment on the apparent “different feeling.”
The fact is Drye is probably still getting used to the campus layout and schedule. Many students think they can judge him based on the polices that have been added to the school since he became principal, but in actuality, we don’t know the full story. Some policies may have been initiated by Parker before he left or part of a district-wide initiave. And looking around to other schools, we see that East Meck is not unique. Other schools are insituitng similar policies. They are the result of a changing world, not a changing principal.
Ultimately, every student’s four years at East will be different, whether principasl, policies change or not. The clubs a student joins, the classes they take, friends they meet, and changes they impart on the school are the true factors on the school are the true factors that will define a student’s experience. The actions of administrators don’t make as much of a difference as the actions of students.
Many of the biggest changes come from student initiatives. ROTC commonly does trash-pickups around the school. The Student Library Advisory Committee hosts events in the library to brighten students’ days. NHS is continuing last year’s progress supplying period product boxes in girl’s restrooms.
Students are starting new clubs like Banned Book Clubs and Beauty Club and National Art Honor Society. These clubs are helping students find communitites of love and support.
Well-established club and student group activities shouldn’t be ignored either. HOSA’s blood drive, Diversity Comittee’s UJAMMA, and Student Congress’ can drive are just a few examples of Eagles making a difference. No matter what changes East goes through, we can count on these annual events to continue.
Out school has been through a lot in its 75 (or is it 74? Read pages 8-9 to learn more) years of existence. The four years a student gets is very brief in comparison. Being open and accepting of change is the only way to make the most of that limited time.
Or, if there is a policy or norm you feel you can’t accept, do something about it. Find a way to improve the flaws you see by joining or starting a student group. It is possible. One such example of these student initiatives is the Spanish news broadcast (read more on page 3).
East Meck is constantly growing and chaning. It is true that “this year doesn’t feel the same.” However, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Despite controversial policies and rules being put in place, student led initiatives continue to make East a better place. These are the changes we should focus on.
35 years from now East may have a completely different principal and new set of rules, but the spirit of East is something that will always come from the students.
