Students should appreciate their time at Costa

Costa students cheer on the football team at home. Some students dressed in Costa gear, green, and gold.

As I settle into senior year and submit my final college applications, I can’t help but reflect on the Costa community that has surrounded me for the past four years. My fellow seniors and I have been on a rollercoaster ride during our four years at Costa, from experiencing bomb threats our freshman year to witnessing the closure of the library as a result of asbestos exposure at the beginning of this school year.

Despite these challenges, I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Costa and all of the experiences it has brought me. My time on La Vista and golf have brought me lifelong friends and memories that I will cherish for years to come. The thought of leaving my home and the people I have known for the past 17 years is terrifying, but makes me greatly appreciate my senior year and the time I have left at Costa.

However, there has always been one nagging thought that has plagued my Costa experience and makes me look forward to my next four years in college: Costa’s lack of school spirit. During my four years, I have noticed a steady decrease in Costa spirit. As a freshman, I wore green and gold glitter on my face to football games every Friday night. I never missed a Spirit day, partly because I received extra credit in one of my classes, I admit, but also because I was truly excited to be part of the Costa family.

However, I witnessed this mentality decline in myself and my classmates as classes became more difficult, we became more competitive and students became less excited about being Mustangs.

I cannot help but feel that I have missed out on a crucial part of the high school experience, especially because there are so many things that we should take pride in as Mustangs. We have nationally-acclaimed student programs, elite sports teams and some of the brightest students in the nation.

I urge my fellow seniors to reflect on what being a Mustang has meant to them as they prepare for college and their futures, and I encourage other students to appreciate their time at Costa because four years will go by before they know it. I can only hope that this time next year my experiences at Costa will have prepared me to take on new challenges.