While there is an endless build-up for Homecoming and football season, the people behind the scenes of these iconic events are rarely recognized.

Brooke Valderrama, Assisted Student Body (ASB) Activity Director revealed that both her and ASB’s schedules are never truly open.

“We are always planning for an event so there is always something going on… this Friday we also have a football game so it’s all hands on deck for us with the lunchtime pep rally, the senior night, poster making, and decorating the stadium,” said Valderrama.

Valderrama also has to coordinate with the football program to schedule and plan the Homecoming game. 

“Me and Coach Frith, we coordinate what game is going to be the homecoming game. Ideally, we want to pick a game that we’re gonna win. Our football team is amazing this year so that hasn’t been difficult,” said Valderrama

That isn’t the end of the workload for Valderrama. Without time to catch her breath, she goes from planning one thing to another, often having to focus on setting up many events, like the dances, pep rallies, and spirit weeks. Valderrama highlighted the substantial amount of effort that specifically goes into the Friday night football games.

Between all the planning for football games and dances, Valderrama has to help organize Spirit Week. Between all the stress that comes with organizing events Valderrama has made it abundantly clear that in the end, the success of the events lies in the hands of her students. Not her.

“It’s not really on me. It’s on the kids. It’s all on them. I’ve been doing this for 16 years and we’ve had events where it’s like ‘No this is what we are doing and it’s your job to put your own creative spin on it to really make it great. Like we know the main factors but what are you going to do to make it special?’ It’s all on them to figure that piece out,” said Valderrama.

At their core school events are about finding a way to bring students of SJHHS together and celebrate together as a community. Valderrama stresses the importance of the students being the true masterminds behind school events.