September 2018

4 homecoming/westerner
Where there’s a (Good) will
HOW TO ASK SOMEONE TO HOMECOMING
USING ONLY THINGS FROM A THRIFT STORE
Coming up with a creative way to ask someone to homecoming
is hard enough without having to worry about the expenses
from the materials needed for your idea. An easy way to eliminate
some of these expenses is to get your materials on the cheap
from thrift stores like Goodwill, such as the one located at Oakton
and Lee streets. With such a wide variety, from household items to
clothing to furniture, something is bound to spark an idea. Here are
seven simple, cheap options using items in stock at Goodwill now.
1
Get some mismatching clothes, such as
plaids and stripes, and wear socks with sandals.
Make your sign: “Plaid and stripes don’t
go together and neither do socks and sandals,
but let’s go together to homecoming!” Total
cost of shorts, shirt, and jacket: $15.
2
If $15 is still above your budget, you
can go for a simpler approach by purchasing
a candle for only $2. Light the
candle before asking them, and then
say, “Let’s make homecoming lit!”
3
For an even cheaper option, purchase
a small American flag for a
dollar. Wear any red, white, or blue
clothes and ask them if they’re “free”
to go to homecoming with you.
4
If you’re looking to sweep your date off
their feet with wit, buy a tea cup and lamp
shade. Tell them, “No tea, no shade, just
facts: we’re going to homecoming together!”
In total, you’ll only spend $3.50.
5
BY HANA
DEMPSEY
asst. features
editor
Believe it or not, you can actually find trophies
at Goodwill. For just a dollar, you can buy one,
draw on a new faceplate, and tell your date,
“You’d be a prize to take to homecoming!”
6
Another rather simple but charming way to
ask someone is by using a picture frame. Buy
one for just a dollar, hold it in front of your
face and say, “I can picture us at homecoming
together!” Afterwards, you can use the
frame to hold the pictures you take together.
7
Sophomore Madison Gierut found inspiration
at Goodwill too: a book for only 99 cents.
Using paint, she spelled out “HoCo?” across
two of the pages and decided she would tell
her friend, “Let’s book a date to homecoming!”
PHOTOS BY HANA DEMPSEY
Shopping from thrift stores is not only easy and cost-effective, but it is also very practical.“You can buy something brand new and then use it once
and throw it away, but when you buy something from Goodwill, you are just reusing items and can later donate them back when you’re done,”
consumer education teacher, Emma Brandt, said. The huge selection of affordable items from Goodwill leaves you with endless possibilities.
“It’s so affordable, and since there’s so much variety, it’s really easy find a clever way to ask,” Gierut said.
dancing
BY SARAH SMAIL
features editor
past the
drama
Homecoming season: a time most look forward to. Organized by
Student Council, the homecoming dance is a night filled with music,
dancing, and most importantly, precious moments created amongst
friends. The days leading up to the dance are packed with hectic events like
the Powder Puff game, the assembly, and spirit week-events that bring friends
closer and channel energetic Maine West spirit. With the fun, however, comes
stress created by certain social pressures and standards.
For girls, there are possible worries about buying a dress, styling hair and
makeup, and not blowing their budgets. While this may not be done consciously,
there are underlying standards that have become the norms for what
people expect of themselves or others. For guys, some feel the burden of
asking a girl to the dance. The stakes to think of a creative idea--that’s both
effective and cheap--add pressure to this unspoken obligation.
“I feel the guys have more pressure on them. This is mainly because they’re
the ones who have to ask the girls to the dance, take them there, spend time
There’s a way
September 17, 2018
with them, and dance with them,” sophomore Iwo Gesing said.
However, there’s no need to fret; most agree that when the dance does
come, it’s a time for having fun, not paying attention to others. “I would say
that although there is some underlying pressure to a small degree, most of it
is all in our heads. On homecoming night, people are going to be way too into
themselves and their partners to be paying attention to what kind of pants
someone wore,” junior Blazej Ezlakowski said. “I think as long as you have
fun at homecoming, you should be fine.”
While the dance is about having a good time, it’s hard to find the
time to get all the preparations in order. Some may find excitement
in planning for pictures, dinner, and after-dance activities, others,
especially underclassmen, feel an anxiety about fitting everything in.
“I do believe planning for the dance can be stressful. Freshman year, you
have no idea what to do. You’ve only really seen the movies and what other
people have told you. What to wear, how to act, what to say to the person you
like -- these things can all generate a lot of stress,” freshman Raphael Ranola
said.
That being said, the dance itself doesn’t have to be a defining moment
of one’s homecoming revelry. “I don’t like the actual dance, which is kind of
funny because that’s the main point of homecoming. I think a lot of people
would agree that before the dance when you get to hang out with friends is
the most fun part,” sophomore Marissa Parcell said.