By: Sai Velamala and Claire Daly

  The MRHS building was the center of school spirit on October 4th. Beneath the pulsing lights of the gym, students at MRHS danced shoulder to shoulder — glittering dresses, untied ties, and all — while the scent of pizza and the sound of laughter drifted from the cafeteria and commons. It was homecoming night, and the hallways of Marriotts Ridge bustled with life.

   For many students, the night began hours earlier with makeup, outfits, clouds of perfume, and pictures filling the air as they prepared for one of the most anticipated events of the year.
  “I straightened my hair, got my nails done, ate a snack, got dressed with my friends, and got a bunch of pictures at the shrine,” described senior Thanvi Avula.

   Once the preparations had been tied up and photo sessions were over, students poured into the school ready to trade heels for sneakers and loosen ties for a night of food and dancing. 

   The gym was a popular spot of the night, packed with students crowding the dance floor as the low thump of the bass vibrated in their stomachs. Glowsticks waved in the air, voices rose in unison, and an unmistakable wall of body odor formed from collective sweat. At the center of it all was the person behind the booth, setting the tone for the night.

   The role of the homecoming DJ has never been an easy one. With a student body that has different tastes and high expectations, it’s a tough crowd to impress. After a few unpredictable years on the dance floor, this year’s DJ left a variety of impressions among the students. Some were more satisfied with this year’s song selection compared to previous years, especially when popular hip-hop tracks made it into the mix.

   “I would say the DJ this year was way better than all the years in the past. My favorite song that he played was ‘NOKIA’ by Drake because I love that song, and everyone got so hype,” said senior Ezra Ijiyemi.

   Many students also appreciated the DJ’s improvement from some of the choices made in previous years.

   “I feel like the DJ was a lot better compared to the past because there weren’t too many sound effects and he didn’t mute the song once it got to the chorus,” explained senior Hannah Cardwell.

   Other students, however, felt the playlist could have included a wider range of genres to better reflect not only the school’s diverse music tastes but also to cater to the students’ age group.

“If I were the DJ, I would play more 2000s music because not only do I feel that 2000s music is easier to dance to, it’s also nostalgic for a lot of the people here,” stated senior Finn Boyle.

   From the roars of the student section at the game to the sound of the music in the gym, homecoming once again set off the new school year with an exhilarating start. The event delivered what it always promises: a night of energy and school pride that will echo through the hallways long after the last song fades.