The longstanding tradition of pep fests serves as a great way to enhance student involvement in school events and school pride, but this can only be possible with mindfulness of time.

On the first day of school the two-hour pep fest felt very overwhelming. Some students entered the pep fest excited for the new year and left exhausted and unenthusiastic. The length of the event may have caused students to dread the year ahead instead of the pep fest’s true intent — to increase excitement about a certain event.

Pep fests differ from normal school activities and allow students to divert focus from their normal schedule. They bring the student body together by boosting morale before a big game or dance.

The atmosphere created by peers celebrating together, provides the community a sense of unity and excitement about upcoming events.

Many pep fests are less than 45 minutes and some students still feel they lose interest within the first 10 minutes. According to KidsGrowth, a teenager’s attention span lasts between 48 and 80 minutes. Limiting pep fests to a maximum of 30 minutes will increase overall participation and excitement.

Pep fests are an exciting part of high school and aren’t meant to be time fillers. To create a peppy atmosphere, promptness must be one of the main focuses in future pep fests. With time limits as a central focus, students will have the opportunity to enjoy the pep fests and get involved in school activities.