When you’re on the field, or the court and you look in the stands and see people’s faces you’ve known your whole life cheering and edging you on to do your best it just gives you that extra push to excel in what you’re trying to accomplish.

But when you look in the stands and see nobody cheering for you it has just the opposite effect. To those that don’t play sports or compete in other extra curricular stuff it might not make sense, but for those of us who do it might make the difference in a win or loss.

            Whenever I walk down the hallways I always overhear a conversation about how much another school is going to beat Denton High and it makes me sick to my stomach. The majority of the time, it’s the people who choose not to participate in sports.

            It seems like to me that the people who always have something negative to say about a team here at Denton High, are the ones who show up to school at 8:50 and go home at 4:10. So why shoot down a team that is doing something positive for the school?

            Another thing that kind of bugs me is how I see students who attend Denton High give tons and tons of praise to every other school in the world except the school that they attend. It doesn’t make sense to put another high school on a pedestal like their students are better than you. There is no need to talk down on the school that you attend every day.

            Pride is an issue that Denton High has had for as long as I can remember, and it bothers the players. Of course in the state of Texas sports are the main focus no matter where you go. Academics are a close second, but even then not many people looks at a school and say “Hey that school has a lot of smart people.”

The fact that Denton High has had its downs in some sports is the main reason why the school spirit is lacking, but all schools go through ups and downs.  Although improvements are being made in all the sports, students want to see immediate change. If you want to see immediate change, there is something you can do.

            If you have ever gone to Denton High or you currently attend, it starts with you. You should be there to cheer your team on. You should be there to support your school because they work hard for you. Athletes get up before the sun comes up, and stay after the sun goes down. All they ask for in return is for you to support them and stand behind them, even if the team is having a hard time.

            This doesn’t mean to empty out your pockets, and wear yourself out to make every game. It only means to cheer on the volleyball team, the football team, the soccer team, the basketball team, the baseball team, the tennis team, or even the golf team, because your support is the missing ingredient to success.