Memories Locked In: Freshmen trip to the Puyallup State Fair

by Amani Caesar

High school transitions are all about firsts, and for the incoming freshman class, the annual school trip to the fair set the bar pretty high. Packing into the buses and taking a break from the classroom allowed the newest Irish to unwind and build friendships that will define their next four years.

I got the chance to talk with a few freshmen and asked them about their experience.  Attractions were a major draw for everyone, with the green roller coaster quickly becoming a consensus favorite for Norio, Inoke, and Angelo. Meanwhile, Jonah L., Tommy T., and Seth P. gravitated straight toward The Wildcat for their biggest thrill of the day. When it came to fair food, no one left hungry. Norio, Inoke, and Angelo sampled a bit of everything, eating warm scones, smash burgers, and elephant ears as their favorite eats. Jonah, Tommy, and Seth paired their own favorite treat, sweet elephant ears, with cold boba to fuel their afternoon.

The fun started long before hitting the fair. On the ride there and back, students on Inoke's bus and the Waterford house turned the commute into playing Among Us together to pass the time. More than just a fun day off, the outing gave freshmen a chance to break out of their usual routines and talk to classmates they hadn't met yet. As one student shared, hanging out outside the classroom early in the year made it easy to meet completely new faces and build lasting bond.  With new friendships made and plenty of memories locked in, the fair trip proved to be a great kickoff to freshman year.