A sea of bodies with blue-heathered and gold-lettered shirts populated the bleachers of Najafi Gym on October 17, 2025, for the annual Blue and Gold celebration of school spirit. Among us sat junior German exchange student Mia Blaes, who thought “blue and gold” were just colors, until now.
Anyone affiliated with PCDS knows what “Blue and Gold” entails: a pep rally where the energy is electric, a volleyball game where the stands erupt at every point, and a carnival-style night with food trucks and bright lights. For this occasion, Mia donned her official Blue and Gold 2025 shirt. At first glance, she blended right in, just another voice chanting in a sea of cheers. No one could have guessed that just two short months ago, PCDS was foreign to her. By now, she was officially an Eagle.
To an outsider, Blue and Gold may seem over-the-top, but us Eagles know it well. We know when to scream, which food trucks are the best, and what’s coming when the senior boys run off during the pep rally. As a fellow Junior at PCDS, I have a few more Blue and Golds under my belt than Mia.
To me, this atmosphere has become normal. When October nears, I get excited for the chaos and camaraderie. During the pep rally, we bond over holding up the oversized PCDS banner, cheering for both the seniors and faculty as they face off, and screaming “P-C-D-S!” to declare our loyalty. It’s a moment where we’re all part of something bigger than ourselves.
Although Mia wasn’t familiar with this spectacle, she embraced it immediately: “The pep rally was crazy! I love the school spirit. It makes everybody feel so connected.” When she found herself under the huge PCDS banner, she enthusiastically reached up to help wave it. Her school in Germany has a similar sports day to celebrate school spirit, but it is limited to students below seventh grade. She said, “I only know stuff like the banner and this big hype from soccer games or basketball games.”
One of the most anticipated aspects of the pep rally is the senior boys’ dance–an annual mix of absurdity and school pride. For weeks, I passed Najafi during lunch and heard a sample of the performance that was brewing.
When the time came, they didn’t disappoint; Mia noted that the dance was “very iconic.” She also had some insightful words beyond its tomfoolery on the surface: “I think it’s really funny because it makes the senior boys look a lot less scary than some middle schoolers or younger people might think.” She saw the dance as an opportunity for the younger members of the community to realize that the oldest high schoolers aren’t so intimidating after all.
After the pep rally, the bleachers were packed with students, teachers, and parents cheering on the Eagles playing volleyball. I sat beside my friends, our voices in unison; when we scored, we clapped furiously, when the referee gave a controversial call to the other team, we all groaned, and when it was match point, we all stood up as one and rooted wildly for our Eagles. We were all one team, even off the court.
Mia could also feel the enthusiasm in the atmosphere: “Especially for the volleyball teams, it was such a truly amazing moment, like everybody celebrating and cheering for the teams.” Mia plays on the women’s junior varsity volleyball team, so she knows first-hand how invigorating a crowd can be.
Following the pep rally, we all went to enjoy an array of carnival rides and delicious food offerings. Many options are consistent over the years of Blue and Gold, such as the citrus-sesame chicken I get every year. So, when I saw a new, thrilling carnival ride, I ran straight to it. What a woeful mistake. The ride had multiple spinning aspects, and by the end of it, I was dizzy, disoriented, and didn’t feel too well. Though the piña colada shaved-ice I enjoyed while waiting in line, thankfully, did not make a reappearance, I had to sit down for a moment post-ride to take a breath.
Mia, wisely, chose to stay grounded and consoled me as I stumbled onto steady ground. She did dabble in other rides, namely the pirate ship.
To some, this day may seem like a distraction from academics, especially due to the shortened classes, but Mia posits that events to celebrate community help motivate academic performance: “Because of the strong community and the strong support, you feel a lot more encouraged to learn and you actually want to study to prove to your teachers that you’re doing a great job.”
Our spirit celebration still enchants me as it did the first time. I proudly paint my face with blue and gold and giddily run to the food trucks after cheering for our teams. For me, times like these put wonder and pride center stage. These moments are best spent with friends both old and new.
When I first met Mia, she pointed out a yellow school bus and remarked how it was “so American” and “just like the movies.” Two months later, her appreciation of American high schools has transcended media moments; now it’s a living part of her memory. Blue and Gold was something foreign, but welcoming. Mia will “never forget this moment.” This day of school spirit has shown that she’s spread her wings and flown in her new community, with sparkling wings of blue and gold.
So soar, Mia, because now, you’re an Eagle!
