If you’re a true Mexiconian, there are some distinct things that you have to deal with on the daily. For those who went to Mexico High School especially, whether you’re an alumni or a current student, you will find this article to be not only accurate, but also nostalgically gratifying.

The question, “You’re from where?”

One of the most iconic things about our town, is the reaction strangers unfamiliar to central New York have when you say the word Mexico.

“Mexico High School, like in Mexico Mexico?”

“WHOA, You live in Mexico?”

“You don't look Mexican?”

“Did you mean New Mexico?”

“Mexico is so far away!”

Finally, after emphasizing New York and referencing its location as “Roughly 40 minutes outside of Syracuse”, they get it.

The Architecture

Mexico High School is without a doubt one of the most stunning buildings around. As a student, I remember getting used to the beauty until I visited surrounding schools for various reasons and discovered how elegant our school really was in comparison. I’m sure most of us can agree that there is something about a marbled foyer embellished with an antique chandelier that makes going to class a little less depressing.

We All Know Something About Everyone

A small town school is the perfect place to go if you want to spread information fast. It’s also an inevitable fact of life, especially in Mexico, everyone in school knows something about you—even the teachers. It’s like this outside of school too. With a pathetic population less than 6,000 people, you’re bound to know most everyone you bump into. We're just a close community, which can be beneficial in the tough times as Mexiconians are some of the most supportive folks I have witnessed.

Having Teachers We Connect With

I've gotta be honest, most of the teachers (you know who they are) are truly great people; they are perhaps the best representations of what Mexico is all about. I remember some of my best high school memories were spent spending after school hours chatting with my favorite teachers or going to the art room during a study hall because the art teachers brightened my day. Of course, we all know those not so great teachers, the ones that forced us to get signed passes when we already had permission or the ones that had over dramatic fits about students making too much clatter in the library. But how boring would life be if we had no one to complain about?

Accepting All Types of Kids

So what, the weird kids in the corner of the cafeteria wear weird stuff and play on their Gameboys in the halls... big deal. So what, the camo wearing, dip spitting country guys in school made loud noises in study hall and skipped school for hunting season? And yeah, everyone knew who the rich kids were and everyone knew who was favored in sports. The best part about Mexico was that within all the diversity of personalities and interests, everyone still tolerated each other. Because if there’s one thing everyone agreed on, it’s that the Economics teacher was on something, swimming for gym was a nightmare and the school lunch tasted like sewage.

Senior Privilege Always Came in Clutch

My favorite part of high school: Senior Privilege Pass. We had the ability to straight up leave during school hours, which was a unique feature about our school system. The only thing that made it better was hearing the British study hall monitor ask “Leaving on S.P.P?” as she crossed your name off the attendance sheet.

Constantly Dealing With Some Kind of Construction

Seriously, no matter what year it is, or how “up-to-date” the school seems, there is always some kind of project going on in that place. My freshman year it was the new athletic entrance. Then it was new rooms during sophomore year. A government granted (waste of money) outdoor ropes course came my senior year. Now it's a new auditorium and next is a new turf field. It’s a never ending chore trying to refurbish that school.

Whoever Painted Over The Cafeteria Murals..

All of us who are old enough to remember the horror of walking into a white cafeteria (which had been previously brilliantly painted with cute jungle animals, trees and bright foliage) are still holding a grudge towards whoever decided they wanted to use white paint to cover up the artwork of proud children. We are not mad, just disappointed. Okay, we're also mad.

Being Well-Known for Two Things: Wrestling and ROTC

Every high school has “their sport," the one they dominate in as a whole. I have to admit, we never really stood out as a school in baseball or soccer (sorry fam), and our football team has done generally average over the years. As high school progressed for my class, wrestling became our thing. Mexico was good at something for once and we got so good that we won something. I had never seen a community so proud, as when our talented team of Varsity wrestlers came home as State Champions more than just once.

Perhaps Mexico's staple was having one of the most top notch JROTC programs around. We took home some victories within that group as well. It was just another thing about Mexico that made it so uniquely elite.

The Tiger-Freakin-Terrace

There was one thing on everyone's mind until one o'clock hit—Tiger Terrace. A little shop on the bottom floor with various snacks, coffees and treats. The line of students would trail out of the room around the locker embellished halls just for a soft pretzel or a blue slushie. What we all loved most was that it was run by the special education class, so cashing out was always the cutest experience.

Short and Sweet Graduation Ceremonies

Living in a small town means there is a small number of people, and an even smaller number of graduates every year. The graduation ceremonies are always such a great thing to watch because it’s like one big town celebration. Having it outdoors makes it so lovely and the personal speeches put lumps in everyone's throats. I've gotta say, I’m glad I am a Mexico graduate, or my life may have been so plain, so average and ordinary, that I may have never gotten to where I am now.