Boys Poms has been a core event of spirit week at our school ever since the very beginning of the tradition. Over the years, many technically impressive dances have been composed and performed at school assemblies that utterly surpassed the expectations of the Westminster community. However one question about the time-honored tradition remains unanswered: What could possibly compel a bunch of teenage boys to get together and perform a dance in front of hundreds of people?
Elijah Aucker, an eighth grader participating in Boys Poms, was able to provide a little bit of insight into the phenomenon of the boys’ participation: “I’m doing it because my mom made me.”
While this may seem like a rather blunt answer, parental pressure has actually been a big factor in getting the boys to participate in Boys Poms. Although the boys whose parents force them to participate are often reluctant to do so, in the end, they still get together with their grade to practice the dance and often form long-lasting memories and friendships in the process.
As Elijah further added, despite his parents’ direct influence on his involvement in Boys Poms: “My experience has been pretty good. I’ve got a lot of friends here.”
Furthermore, Benjamin Kettleson, a sophomore participating in Boys Poms, also commented on the camaraderie aspect of Boys Poms. He revealed that he was participating in Boys Poms: “because a lot of my friends were doing it”.
One of the biggest benefits of taking part in Boys Poms is the ability to make friends and build relationships with people you likely would not otherwise. There is something about the sheer courage it takes to be willing to perform in front of hundreds of people that truly brings people together and forms a sense of community between them.
The sheer peculiarity of such an event brings students from different classes and social groups together in a way that they would never truly experience in the course of regular school. Not only does the event foster new friendships, but it also reinforces old ones as well.
Ultimately, the truth behind the boys’ willingness to participate in such a potentially embarrassing event stems from their desire to connect to and spend time with their peers. So whether you take part in a performance or watch from the bleachers, be sure to cheer for the students in Boys Poms because it is a huge commitment of their time, money, and energy to participate in the event for the sake of building camaraderie with their peers.
