This first thing I saw when I walked into my new school was a wall of faces. All the graduaing classes from the past 10 years were smiling down at me, but not in the way you would think. Instead of velvety black dresses and tuxedos, there were cowboys, barn yard animals, 80s glam shots, disco dancers and so much more!
"Do you have this tradition in your schools, Niecea?" my mentor asked.
"No ma'am," I said. "Not that I've ever seen!"
Senior bonding and the celebration of adulthood are a big part of the final year of high school in the Czech Republic, just like in the United States, and many of the traditions are very similar to our own. Much like senior prom, the graduating classes have a Maturita Ball, named after the final exam they take at the end of the year. Much like senior sunrise or senior service programs, Czech students participate in events to spend time with each other and reach out to their community. One event that they put on is called stužkovací večírek, which roughly translates to ribbon evening, and it is a very unique celebration.
Stužkovací večírek is planned by the graduating classes to say farewell and give thanks to the teachers who have helped them along their journey. My school has three classes, A, B and C. Each of the classes reserves a space and throws a themed dinner party.
