This is heavily inspired by Orla and Christina. I loved their ideas with ranking popular events or things that were of significance to them. Christina ranking the met gala looks was truly an interesting read and I was infatuated reading Orla’s take on her preferred restaurants and dance routines. It was told from such a riveting perspective and I loved reading their opinions and how mine may have differed. So here I present to you my ranking of hoco dresses from my freshman year through senior year. Fashion has always been a major part of my life and as soon as I sewed my first pair of pajama pants I knew at the age of twelve exactly what I wanted to do with my life. I told everyone I encountered that I was going to be a fashion designer; therefore, homecomings in any case have been the closest thing I had to my runway walk and flaunting my fancy sparkly dresses. So let’s get started. 

Let’s start with freshman year shall we, 

A traumatizing time for everyone. However, I don’t mind my dress choice. Luckily I stuck with a navy blue dress with a v-neck top, a fitted middle section, and a skirt that puffed out slightly towards the bottom. Definitely not a dress I would have picked my senior year, but I am happy my freshman self stuck with something simple and nothing too extravagant or embarrassing. I went with my eighth-grade best friend, Duncan Chick so I knew him well and was comfortable. Unfortunately, I had a volleyball tournament the day of, so I arrived fashionably late to dinner with my hair half done. I’m sad to say this is the only picture of us together; however, the night was fun and I rate this experience a 6/10. 

This was freshman year north spring and I have completely recovered. No volleyball tournament that day and my hair was fully done this time. I wore a long maroon dress that had a high neck beaded top and I went with my sophomore friend, Colin Kaiserkendall. The pictures were beautiful, we clearly had them professionally taken. I rate this experience a 7/10. 

& I digress.. I was doing so well too.. Clearly, no professional photos were taken at this dance. Just the average blurred and zoomed-in pictures taken by the wonderful parents. This was my sophomore year at Saint Francis’s homecoming by the way. I wore a red dress that was one shoulder and had an intricate red flap towards the middle. My dress was very classy but a little boring, I wish we matched better. However, I went with one of my eighth-grade friends, Thiago De Castro and my experience was wonderful. Everyone at Francis was so sweet and made me feel welcome. I rate this experience an 8/10. 

Let’s take a minute. The dress, the color coordination, the flowers. The assignment was obviously understood. This was sophomore year North homecoming and one of my absolute favorite looks. I wore a strapless red dress that was lace and had beads sporadically placed throughout the dress. I paired it with suede Steve Madden shoes that beamed of sparkles around the ankle and toes. Still to this day, am I obsessed with this dress, I would wear it again in a second. I went with my junior friend Liam Breese and it was an amazing experience overall. I rate this occasion a 9/10. 

Here I have my sophomore year Francis Turnabout. Acquainted yet again by Thiago De Castro. I wore a satin navy blue dress that was strapped up in the back and I paired my dress with simple nude heels. I think we were very cohesive and matched almost perfectly. I rate this experience another 7/10. Props to me adding a braid in my hair a little change of scenery from the always curled hairstyle. 

**Due to covid I did not have a sophomore year spring, or proper junior hoco, however, our group as well as many others, decided to do a “fomecoming,” aka a fake hoco. Not nearly the same, but we did our best to resemble what could have been. 

Therefore, this was my look for Metea’s “foco.” If you are wondering, we did not attend with dates because we barely could string this event together. As much as it was unorganized I do appreciate our attempts of keeping the tradition alive. Here I wore a long sleeve black dress that had rhinestones incorporated into the piece. You can agree, it’s okay, I am not overly obsessed with this look, I admit I could have done better. I do remember this day being awfully fun and I spent it with my closest friends which was obviously a plus. I rate my experience an 8/10. 

Talk about boring. I know, but let me explain. This was North’s foco and we did ours a little differently. We made it a poker night and we did in fact attend with dates. I wore a simple, cotton black dress and paired it with my new white sneakers. Definitely a good break from my frequently worn sparkly shoes. All I know is my feet did not hurt that night. I also went with my best friend at the time, Kyle Fuglsang, and he took his cousin’s Rolls Royce which was an awesome experience riding shotgun in the car. I rate this moment another 8/10. 

I don’t know how we made it here, but I present to you North’s Prom. A true blast from the past, I went with my sophomore date, Liam Breese. I wore a long yellow gown that had white beads included in the garment. I paired this dress yet again with my sparkly Steve Madden shoes. I remembered prom as a stressful event, to say the least. For starters, I was asked a week before, and finding a dress and paying last-minute fees for the rental house was all overwhelming. However, prom fell on my birthday and it was an event I wouldn’t trade for the world. I loved celebrating my seniors and I am glad covid did not get in the way of the most anticipated event that they have been waiting all year for. I rate this experience an 8.5/10! 

And now I am a senior and I cannot believe these are my last hoco’s, I am extremely sad. This was Meteas homecoming this October. I went with my friend, Brandon Vahla, and wore a long one-shoulder black dress with rhinestones integrated into the gown, a truly stunning piece, but exceptionally heavy. I wore my sparkly shoes, yet again, and my hair was curled, this time taking a different approach and slicking the two front pieces of my hair back into my scalp, held by bobby pins that did not stay for long. The day was rainy and a little humid, but my experience was great for the most part. Metea’s dance was sadly one of the worst I’ve been to, but the dinner, my date, and afterparty certainly recovered for the dance. My experience was a 9/10 and was an incredible senior memory in my book. I will forever cherish the morning after getting breakfast with my friends and discussing what events took place the night before. A fun night to say the least!

If you made it this far I applaud you. Thank you for sticking around. I bet you are relieved, this was my last and final hoco, the most recent too. North’s senior hoco and by far the most enjoyable out of them all. I wore a rose gold sequin dress that had fringe mingled in, again I wore the infamous sparkly shoes and felt like I belonged in the Great Gatsby. I went with my best friend and arguably the best date, Kyle Fuglsang, and had one of the best experiences of my life. We arrived in style as he brought his cousin’s Ferrari to the event. Our dinner was awesome, the dance was funny, and the afterparty was amazing. I rate this experience 1000/10 I would relive this night one-hundred times more if I could.

& now the final verdict: 

1. North hoco senior year
2. North hoco sophomore year
3. Metea hoco senior year
4. North prom junior year 
5. North spring freshman year 
6. North foco junior year
7. Francis turnabout sophomore year 
8. Metea foco junior year 
9. Francis hoco sophomore year 
10. North hoco freshman year

While she grew up, her family was privileged; She didn’t have to worry about finances. She had the luxury of playing pretend in her fancy pink barbie car. Her hardest decision was deciding which Disney princess she ought to be that day. When wondering what she wanted to be when she was older, her first idea was a mermaid– of course — then perhaps a fairy. A dog walker surfaced her mind at age 8 but was obviously beaten by the classic superhero or princess at age 9. She was the friendly neighbor who wore a blue Cinderella dress with the additional blue lightsaber because she couldn’t make up her mind that day. She played in her treehouse where I watched the older brother rule the “kingdom.” If only life was as simple as it was back then. She had no idea that hardships were impending upon her family, she needed more time. 

I remember her mom always telling us stories of how easygoing she was. I recall her never demanding attention or requiring much maintenance, she was the middle child. She had low expectations and was appreciative of everything she received. I often remember her waiting at the dining room table while I got home from school. Her animation was electric and our bond was tight. We did absolutely everything together and wouldn’t leave each other’s sides, we liked it that way. Mom tried to explain to me that her dad’s job was “precarious” whatever that meant, I thought. Little did I know the loss of his job affected their lives in more ways than one, it even took its toll on me. I could tell it was an intense time for their family. We started to drift apart and I never understood how a bond so tight could be broken so easily. I remember my mom repeatedly telling me “it is out of our control, just make sure you’re always there for her.” I never could grasp that sentence. It never made sense to me. Why did we fall apart? What did I do? What did I say? I remember constantly questioning my existence as I would come home from school barging through the door in hopes she would be there to greet me with a bigger smile than me. Shortly after I would always rush to my window and look outside hoping there would be movement in the treehouse, it took me a while to understand that there was always none. 

Her mom left the workforce when they had her so she was a stay-at-home mom, it was confusing to see her mom not home anymore. And I could barely imagine how her and her siblings felt, let alone justifying their lives with newly absent parents. When you walked in their house it wasn’t animated like it used to be; there were no toys, but rather paper and packets and applications flung around on every countertop. Her childhood was different. She grew up fast. I felt like it too, as I studied her life. Her parents provided exactly what she needed but nothing extra. She envied her classmates with trendy clothes and presents that involved concert tickets. However, an experience that brought so many hardships was such an eye-opener. She’s now responsible and cautious and works harder than most, she held a part-time job since she was old enough to work. She takes nothing for granted; even though the pay is minimum wage she claims she never minds working because it gave her an experience of what it feels like to work in the real world. It gave her the perspective of what her father and mother had done for her. She is fully grown at age 17 and I wish she had enough time. If only life was as simple as it was back then.

I like to consider myself funny and outgoing, but only towards the right crowd. I like the idea of long walks, as long as it involves coffee as the reward. According to the personality test, I’m 78 percent extroverted, although, my parents would beg to differ. I am a hard worker and I enjoy keeping myself busy. I adore my friends but idolize my sister more. Believe it or not, creative things bring me satisfaction; also, Sundays are the best day of the week. 

To explain me in further detail: My personality I think is what makes me, me, the same way it makes everyone unique. I’ve always loved the concept of everyone you have encountered sharing a contrasting opinion on how they might perceive you as a person. I almost think it is a funny thing. In the same way, my friends might think I’m the loudest person they know, but my parents can’t wrap their heads around how my friends might think that. 

Like many other students you know, I am a teenager, take that what you will. But being a teenager is probably the hardest job I’ve had so far. However, it brought me my addiction to coffee, as well as my fellow stressed classmates, and a sister that gets me. So nonetheless, high school is awesome!

When I’m not doing homework or doing twenty pages of ACT, I walk. I walk everywhere. I love long walks, I love music, I like listening to the birds and I like surrounding myself with nature and water. I try to go to forest preserves and discover new paths along the way. That alone is probably the most peaceful thing a teenager could do, besides paint. That’s another thing, painting! Painting anything usually faces, I like to think I am Picasso until I am finished with my stick figure. 

And when I am not painting or walking, I am working. I am working at Empire downtown Naperville and not to mention creating my own empire; which in fact, has caused me the most stress yet elation I have ever felt! Side note, always make business with a person you trust, and one that will do some work. Don’t get me wrong, my sister is excellent at keeping me company as I pack orders, as well as consistently spending the money we make. But at the end of the day, after my walk, my work, my painting, I appreciate the hustle of any teacher, my dad for maintaining a house filled with only girls, and high school for teaching me never to quit and always to have a passion for what you believe in.

I hated reading. I hated every part of it. I cannot begin to explain the doleful look that would cast over my face instantly when any English teacher would utter the words, “class, we are reading a new novel today.” The fact those eight words had the power to immediately remove any remnants of a smirk I once had; but then I remembered, I got a seventy-two percent on my math test, so math was technically not my strong suit either. At the time, I remember my third-grade self-thinking, “I had to like something,” therefore, I decided English was feasible after all. Once I got into fourth grade it wasn’t Charlotte’s Web that entirely altered my opinion on English, but it was the teacher; Mr. Puc was his name. His vigorous soul made me fall in love with English. I even caught myself feeling guilty when I stayed home for sick days. I am not fully sure how Mr. Puc transformed my intense opinion on English; but he taught in such an animated yet authoritative way, he still made sure he was abiding by our inordinate list of Catholic school rules. 

At times like this, reminiscing on who impacted me enough where I could write about my takeaways in a meaningful manner, is in an odd way, soothing. And that reminds me in a similar way how Saints Peter and Paul and Mr. Puc visibly developed me into the person I say I am. Mr. Puc is the blueprint I have for every teacher being both energetic and straightforward at the same time; yet, Catholic school developed me into the hardworking, conscious, yet anxious individual that I classify myself as today, leaving me with one ruthless pros and cons list of the lessons I have learned. But overall, I wouldn’t change either experience for anything else. Catholic school has taught me to be persistent with my studies and to always finish my homework on time. It has taught me to never skip a Wednesday mass or you without a doubt will be called down to the principal’s office and be given a form of reflection. It has taught me that people live lavishly in life and will noticeably share their wealth with the world. Catholic education is far from brutal but will make you cry a few times a week, learned from personal experience. And lastly, that is where Mr. Puc made my whole experience at Peter and Paul “okay.” He was the bright light the students needed after a hard day. He was the teacher that would listen but would always incorporate literature into his lectures. He never gave homework on the weekends. And I remember his “improve days” in class were my favorite. He taught me to be confident in the way I spoke. Probably because the three silly words he gave us to incorporate in our speeches and present to the class in less than a minute taught me to be fearless; but now that I think about it was probably the start of my anxiety, but in a good way. The positive outlook I have on the world after experiencing a Catholic school and the lessons I have learned from Mr. Puc has made me dwell on my past and miss what I once had.