Middlesex Traditions

Since its founding in 1901, Middlesex has accumulated many traditions, each of which enrich our school culture, and add to our unique community. Some of these traditions are small and seemingly nonsensical, such as the curse of walking through the first arch when entering the Athletic Center; some are rooted in seniority, including the upperclassmen half of the circle, or the senior stage in the dining hall; and some are highly anticipated events, such as St. George’s Day, or Cash Night. While I enjoy every Middlesex tradition, I believe that the most valuable are the ones that bring the community together.

One of my favorites of such traditions is, of course, Random Dance. The night includes crazy neon outfits, taking pictures with friends outside the Chapel, and fun dancing in the Dining Hall, but most importantly it provides the community with a night to bond with each other and to get to know one another at the beginning of the new school year. Each upperclassman is paired with an underclassman, and they spend the first half of the evening playing games together, such as musical chairs and limbo. I find that this event is the perfect way to connect older students with younger ones, and allow everyone to get to know each other when the new school year starts.

Dorm Wars is another one of my favorite traditions at Middlesex, and it also plays a crucial role in bringing our community together. Dorm Wars ignites an exciting wave of school spirit through the student body, as each dorm spends the morning cutting up their matching t-shirts and covering themselves with glitter and paint in the dorm’s color in order to prepare for battle. Although I have never won Dorm Wars in the four years I have spent at Middlesex, I truly do believe in this case that it is the taking part that counts, as I always end the day feeling deeply connected to my friends in the dorm and to my Middlesex community.

Finally, although the decision is not easy to make, my favorite Middlesex tradition would have to be the Senior Chapels that are presented to us every Thursday. Not only are Chapels something that many Seniors have been looking forward to having the opportunity to do ever since their freshman year, but they are also an incredible way to make an impact on the Middlesex community and to bring us closer together as a school. Chapels allow students to share pieces of their lives and their high school experiences with the community that are crucial in the formation of our close knit environment. Each Chapel talk that is given provides us with valuable insights, useful advice and funny anecdotes that undoubtedly resonate with students and change Middlesex for the better.

Middlesex is already rich with traditions, but there is always room for new ones. I’m sure that as our school continues to learn and grow in the future, our traditions will evolve, and new traditions will emerge. While I’m not sure what Middlesex and its traditions will look like years from now, I am certainly excited to find out.

Florence Morlock