The clock strikes midnight on September 30 and the date changes to October 1. A whole new month of scary costumes, haunted houses and, of course, candy is about to begin.

The celebration of Halloween is generally associated with young children, and, as a result, it’s not common to see high schoolers dress up. However, there are some exceptions. Even some of the toughest high schoolers still have the heart of a child and want to dress up and go trick or treating.

One student, Beck Rusley ‘19, says, “I don’t value candy enough to go around to people’s houses and ask for it.” Similarly, Dominic Reyes ‘19 said that he has “no interest in dressing up” either at school or at home. For these students, much of what made Halloween so fun as a kid—going out late on a school night, getting candy, and dressing up—has lost its allure. As we get older, these things become more normal and perhaps dull the gleam of the occasion.

In contrast, Charlie Mortensen ‘19 says, “I think [trick or treating] is a little bit childish, but because it’s childish, it makes it fun.” Mortenson represents an alternate part of the student body who, while recognizing it’s not the same as when we were little, still think getting into Halloween can be a lot of fun.

Sneha Sinha ‘18 has adopted a more open attitude, saying, “I think that anyone can spend Halloween as they choose to. Honestly, it’s not a question being too childish or not, because at the end, it’s about having a good time.”

Students have different ideas on how they want to spend their Halloween. While some may go all-out and live their Halloween experience to the fullest, others think that staying in and eating the pile of Halloween candy they were supposed to hand out is the best way to spend their night. Regardless of what one chooses, Halloween is a great time to celebrate the spooky season.