North Hollywood High School’s 2018 Homecoming Game was well-planned and the whole school couldn't wait to go. It was also senior night: posters had been made for each senior in the band, football, and dance team. Dance team mastered their colorguard routines, marching band practiced meticulously for their field show, and our football team was ready to face Grant High School. For those who aren’t familiar with high school culture, the Homecoming Game is a football game where alumni are invited to return to high school and reunite with friends and teachers. It is one of the most important events of the semester and the game that everyone looks forward to.
Even before the game started, the weather became chilly; clouds gradually shrouded the sky during the pregame parade. As the football game kicked-off between us and Grant High School, everything went just as it was planned. Many alumni had come to cheer our football team on. Even though our team was losing by 32 points, all the Royal Regiment could think about was the amazing performance they were about to put on for the entire school. Dance team was ecstatic to perform in their new costumes for the very first time. Their field show, Haunted, was finally complete and would be the first time that band and dance team would perform the entire show in conjunction, complete with uniforms, props, and equipment.
However, something peculiar occurred. The wind became intense and lightning started to strike. Every time a bolt of lightning struck, members of the Regiment would excitedly motion to their friends and stare up in anticipation for the next strike that would light up the sky. Authorities were trying to stop the game and performance because it was an electrocution hazard, especially for the dance team, carrying six-foot aluminum flagpoles. Dance team was devastated - not only had they practiced so hard with new equipment, but it was also the seniors’ last homecoming game. In an emotional turn of events, the leaders of dance team angrily discussed with the principal, saying that they couldn’t take this opportunity to perform away from them. Even though LAUSD was shutting down all the football games in the area, the Royal Regiment refused to give in; this would their very first full performance, and for many members, it would be their very last homecoming performance.
With half of dance team in tears, and the intervals between the lightning getting shorter and shorter, the audience became worried. Had someone gotten injured? What was going on? Nevertheless, the Royal Regiment went on the field and performed the entire field show, complete with props and flags. As soon as the band started playing with their extraordinary passion and dance team showcased their amazing skill with airblades, double swing flags, and even ballet, the crowd cheered and became “hyped-up” yet again. People sat on the edge of their benches for the entire field show, lasting almost ten minutes, before erupting into loud applause and enthusiastic cheers.
Right after the performance, dance team sprinted back to their warm-up area and put on their warm-ups over the new, white dresses. They quickly began to roll up flags and put them away. The main goal was evident: prevent damage to the new flags and costumes from the imminent rain. Working together, dance team quickly put away their equipment, seconds before it began to pour. The crowd began to leave, pushing and shoving with the hopes of not getting drenched.
Ultimately, the football game was cancelled, and many members of the football team were distraught that their very last homecoming game would not end in victory. Luckily, most of the seniors were able to salvage their drenched posters from Senior Night with minimal damage. Though it was raining, fireworks began to fill the air with their vibrant and beautiful colors, brightening up the spirits of everyone.
Unfazed by the weather, the dance team ran across the field, duffel bags in hand, and lifted their assigned props back to the band room. Unfortunately, since some of the props and front ensemble’s instruments had wheels, they got stuck in the mud as frantic percussionists hurried to find shelter. Luckily, with the band and dance team helping, everything was put away with relatively little damage. Dance team’s coach and a former alumni of NHHS, Haziel Angeles, praised the team for persisting through the storm and acknowledged that their hard work had finally paid off. Dance Team leaders Samantha Manno and Amy Pham began to share how proud they were and how much love they had for their team. Everyone was quickly enveloped in a tight group hug and many team members began to cry, saying that the team was like family for them as well.
Amongst all the love and kind words being shared among the performers, many people were seeking shelter from the rain and the band room quickly became chaotic. Mr. Sharp quickly escorted everyone into the East Gym and began to congratulate the Regiment for putting on an amazing performance even in the weather that no one could have foreseen.
He applauded and gave flowers to all the team leaders for being successful in providing guidance in this high pressure situation. Mr. Sharp also congratulated all of the seniors on their last homecoming performance of their high school careers.
If you’d like to see the homecoming performance for yourself, here