If you grew up in Summerlin, you went to, or had at least one friend who went to Palo Verde High School. For most of us, Palo was our second home. Four years filled with tons of memories, both good and bad. Whether you loved it or hated it, here’s how you know you were a Panther:
1. You don’t know the words to the fight song (unless you were in choir).
Don’t even lie, you literally only yelled “fight” at the end.
2. You love Café Rio.
And if you don’t, you had to suffer through it, because you were there multiple times a week. Still can’t go there without seeing Palo students or alum.
3. You absolutely DREADED getting out of the parking lot after school everyday.
You either waited in your car for a solid 20 minutes, or sped out of there like a NASCAR driver. There was no in between.
4. You hate Gorman.
Would it be high school without a rivalry? No.
5. But, you knew we were only second best due to an unfair advantage.
I'll just leave this here. Don't want to get too controversial.
6. You said you went to “Palo”, not “Palo Verde”.
7. You graduated, but still have a drawer (or three) full of spirit shirts.
Homecoming, Battle of the Sexes, Senior Week, you name it, we have a shirt for it.
8. If you’re a female, you probably got dress-coded more than once.
Nothing more comfortable than duct-tape to the skin, covering up the holes in your skinny jeans.
9. BJ’s was the go-to place to eat after games and dances.
I swear the pizookie should have been our mascot.
10. You never actually attended the dance, except Prom.
Tickets were expensive, and walking the strip in matching dress and suit was way cooler anyways. Except prom, that was a senior rite of passage.
11. You saw your life flash before your eyes on a daily basis at the four-way stop.
That thing was dangerous. People—whoever gets there first GETS THEIR TURN FIRST. Ugh.
12. You could never understand how a yearbook could be so expensive.
Over 100 bucks?! I don't even like my picture.
13. AP classes basically ended after the AP test.
You probably failed the test, but at least you get to chill for an hour every day for a month.
14. You and your friends made up conspiracy theories about how Battle of the Sexes was rigged.
I mean, how is it that the girls and boys basically rotate winning every year?
15. You were automatically assumed to be stuck up just because you went there.
16. You experienced the stench of the locker rooms.
17. You’re so thankful we didn’t end up the Summerlin Salmons.
I mean the walls were peach-colored, but CCSD spared us some humiliation when choosing our mascot. And for that, we are all eternally grateful. Panther > Salmon.
18. You were bummed about the mile walk to your portable class.
Okay, maybe it wasn't a mile. But it felt like it.
19. You know of some pretty cool alumni.
Did Brendon Urie or Olympic swimmer Cody Miller go to your high school? Yeah, didn't think so.
20. Whether you like it or not, you’re a Panther for life.
And to the class of 2013… I’ll see you at the reunion!
