The whole school was buzzing with talk of homecoming weeks before it even happened. The end of August consisted of constant browsing for homecoming dresses and stressing about not finding the right one. Then there was the talk of who was going with whom, whether you were going to wear heels, and if you and your friends were getting ready together. It was all building up.

Everyone seemed to have a plan for what they were going to do and wear, while I was still stuck at square one, impatiently waiting for my dress to ship. And when it finally did, it was two sizes too big.

The night of homecoming was long anticipated and definitely didn’t disappoint. Energetic pop music blared across our football field while voices hummed all around us. But afterward, I started thinking about what was next. Some of my friends joked that we probably wouldn’t have much to look forward to for the rest of the year.

After giving it some thought, I realized that might be a little exaggerated. We were already thinking months ahead, and I don't put it past my friends and me to be really, really ambitious.

Why not use that ambition to create something to look forward to?

That doesn’t necessarily mean making a whole new event or party. It can mean finding happiness in seemingly normal things, like school spirit. Miramonte creates a welcoming atmosphere, but enjoying it means finding those simple things to appreciate.

For me, that means going to debate tournaments, getting involved in different clubs, and participating in community events like Miramonte volleyball’s Dig Pink cancer awareness night. Even if those things aren’t your thing, there are many other activities to get involved in at Miramonte.

There might not always be a big event to look forward to, but we can still find joy. It’s not the raging parties or the biggest events that make everything special. It’s often the little things that create the memories we’ll remember.