As a Haslett High School senior who has attended Haslett for my entire school career, and a passionate advocate for individuality and personal expression, I believe that our graduation ceremonies should be more than just a stale, bland event. They should be celebrations of the unique journeys we've embarked upon during our educational years. Rather than having people be completely indistinguishable from one another and people blending in (literally and figuratively), we should be celebrating the individuality and futures of our now alumni at the potentially largest and most special ceremonies in one's life.

Decorating graduation caps is a tradition practiced by many schools across the nation. It allows students to express their creativity, commemorate their achievements, honor loved ones or causes they care about deeply. This simple act can make an already memorable event even more special.

However, currently in Haslett High School this practice is not allowed. Haslett High School students agree that in many ways the school takes preventative measures in order to avoid potential controversy, when in reality there is an extremely low chance of anything happening. By giving the hardworking, respectful, and responsible students that Haslett High School has worked with over a 12 year span the trust it takes to allow creative freedom, it further confirms their readiness for adulthood. We are calling on school administrators to reconsider this policy for future graduating classes.

According to a study by University of Texas at Austin (2018), allowing students to personalize their graduation caps can increase feelings of accomplishment and pride among graduates while also making the ceremony more enjoyable for all attendees.

Haslett High School values how much they appreciate their students and celebrate our individuality, experiences, and differences. In order for Haslett to truly fulfill these values, we should allow the celebration our diverse experiences, our individuality, our journeys, our futures, or even just our favorite colors at the last and arguably most important Haslett event.