The week of the 21st to the 25th of October concluded the second round of Selma High School’s planned dress up days, commemorating Red Ribbon Week through a series of themes changed daily.
Red Ribbon Week is observed annually in October across the United States. It condemns superfluous drug, alcohol, smoking, tobacco and other psychoactive substance use, but also holds significance often untold.
In 1985, Special Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camanera was serving as a member of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) while on assignment in Mexico, tracking cocaine and marijuana traffickers. However, he was kidnapped by corrupt local police officers who had been paid off by the Guadalajara Cartel in February.
He had been tortured for many hours before being killed by the cartel. His death sparked a renewed sense of urgency in the United States to hunt illegal drug traffickers. In remembrance of Camanera, the first National Red Ribbon Week was started by the National Family Partnership in 1988, with President Ronald Reagan and his wife serving as the organization’s honorary Chairpersons.
Since 1988, Red Ribbon Week has been widely celebrated across the country, with Selma contributing through its dress up days. Monday, the first dress up day of the week, allowed students to wear pajamas, titled “Follow Your Dreams, Not Drugs.”
Per usual, the pajama dress up day was noticeably popular with students and many participated.
“My favorite day for Red Ribbon Week,” John Camarillo, a senior, commented, “would be PJ Day! Many people, including myself, can agree that waking up in the morning, coming in pajamas, is far better than picking out clothes to wear.”
“Pajama day is just goated,” shared Kim Torres, a senior. “You can come to school comfortable and laid back, and it goes against the dress code on all other days.”
“I believe,” continued Camarillo, “that people enjoy pajama day due to how we wake up lazy in the morning and have no interest in doing any activity. The warm comfort of our pajamas makes us feel closer to our beds.”
On Tuesday, students were encouraged to don tie dye apparel, uniquely named “Say Peace Out to Drugs,” also furthering the school’s message of unity with the rest of the country during a drive to decrease uncontrolled drug use.
Wednesday was “Team Up Against Drugs” day, and permitted students to dress in sports attire, including jerseys and T-shirts. Many wore professional paraphernalia, while some school athletes donned their uniforms.
Thursday honored higher education and its role in preventing drug use, aptly named “Our Future is Bright.” It enabled students to dress in any college or university apparel they may have. A few teachers also celebrated the day.
Friday served as the culmination of the dress up days for the week, titled “On Friday We Wear Pink.” It hyped students for the evening football game against Exeter High School as well.
“I think that pink out will be my favorite,” said Donovan Contreras, a senior. “It’ll show how much school spirit we’re bringing to senior night.”
Some teachers are known to participate in school activities regularly as well, being sure to dress up in accordance with the day to further encourage students to partake in them.
“When I was taking Mrs. Carrillo’s class,” Contreras added, “she did the dress up days a lot. I think my favorite dress up day she did was during pajama days, because she’d always show up in a onesie.”
Students also provided some suggestions for future events to be hosted by the school.
“If I could choose a specific type of dress up day,” said Camarillo, “it would be ‘costume day,’ for festive days.”
Each day featured lunchtime activities held by different clubs, student organizations and classes. Some included Friday Night Live (FNL), which helps promote healthy lifestyles, and students from Selma’s criminology program, among others.
The Red Ribbon Week dress up days will be followed by the Rivalry Week dress up days, from October 28 to November 1, during which a crescendo of activities will culminate with Selma High’s football team facing off against Kingsburg.
