Hellos, Good-byes, and Sunshine By Kelsey Glascock   Around October of every year, Helias tends to become a little crazy. Actually, I think that is an understatement. After hundreds of streamers, balloons, noisemakers, and signs, Helias slowly sinks back into its routine. If the walls could talk, I wonder what they would have to say. Since they can’t, I will. I decorated for Helias Homecoming for the last time Thursday night. As I walked up to the Helias doors, I saw students outside, working together, molding, and engaging in conversation while attempting to create an igloo. These were regular students, who really do not spend day-in and day-out talking to one another.  They worked together and created an igloo out of boxes, with simply an idea in mind, and with every ones creativity it truly came too life.    I passed through the doors and immediately jumped into working on things that needed to be done. I found myself on the top floor’s new hallway, with a group of girls covering walls with wrapping paper. I took a moment and gazed at this hallway. Memories began to flow and all I could think about was, “look how far we have come.” What do I mean by that? Well, I remember freshman year and how hard it was to get to know people. We would race to class and snag the back seats, hoping not to get noticed and exchange causal thoughts. People were singled out but as the years have passed we were all faced with our own difficult experiences. In the end, I truly believe every tragedy, every laugh, and every hug has brought us each closer together.  Again, “look how far we have come.” As we finished wrapping the walls, I made my way to the most important part of Helias: The Commons.  When I walked through the doorway, students were spread out doing different tasks. You saw people blowing up balloons, one tying, and another knotting the string. Then, others were hanging signs. One was ripping the tape and had it ready for the other who waited patiently for them to get done. My eyes immediately diverted to the Christmas tree in the center. One student hung ornaments, the other tossed up tinsel, presents were placed under the tree, garland hung, and the tree fluffed. As I am tying this, I began to see a pattern: teamwork. Students, friends or not, worked together to get things done.  It was rewarding to witness us coming together to get something accomplished so precious to all of us; that is showing our spirit, showing our spirit not only to underclassmen, the administration, but most of all to ourselves.  “Look how far we have come.” I made my way to freshman hallway.  As I scanned the hallway, I saw a group of people working wonders with signs. Height is nothing to be ashamed of.  There was always that one person that always had your back. A week prior to decorating, seniors had come up with the idea to become organized. A group decided to make signs, others built display items for hallways, students bought things with their money, parents donated, and most of all; we all came together and pulled off one of the best decorating jobs I have seen, in a long time. As we all made our way to our cars too leave, a group of us decided to use car paint and write on our windows. I had blue, yellow and white in my hand. I looked at the colors and thought to myself, “This is the last time I will show my Homecoming spirit for Helias, write these words on my car, and use all together, these three colors that I have grown so accustomed to.” In closing, what is Homecoming truly about? I think it depends on who you ask. My stand is that Homecoming is not about who has a date, who has a dress, the prettiest hair, the best decorations, or who ultimately makes a name for them self. Homecoming is that one night, where you and your student body come together. The anticipation leading up to this one night is almost indescribable, and those four hours are always the quickest. Then, you wake up the next morning, wishing you could do it all over again. Homecoming is the one week out of the year, that each class comes together to decorate the hallways, and has the chance to show off their spirit.  The more I write the more clear this has all become. I look back on the memories that Helias has brought, the memories my friends and I have made, the class laughs we all have shared, the teachers, and most of all the time we have all spent together walking these halls. I will never forget that one week that is so infamously remembered; even when I am older I will never forget it. The last thing I will say is, “Look how far we have all come…and I wonder where life will take us next.”