Any of us who have attended the amazing Fairport School District know that we have a community that is unlike any other. Since coming to college, I've realized that some things you just don't understand unless you were a Raider. We all have this unexplainable bond that keeps our Port Pride alive long after we've graduated, and we really live up to the saying, "Once a Raider, Always a Raider." Here are some signs you are a Raider:
1. You hate McQuaid and Pittsford.
Lets just start with the obvious here. If you go to Fairport, it's basically a written rule that you have to hate McQuaid and Pittsford. If you let someone mention one of these two schools without throwing out an incredible hateful and offensive comment about them, you're not a true Raider.
2. You live for Brotherhood-Sisterhood Week.
One way Fairport proves its superiority over every other school district in the entire world is our incredibly unique Brotherhood-Sisterhood Week. From kindergarten until senior year, we basically live for this week. We experience the joy of having a "buddy" from a completely different age group, we hear amazing heartfelt speeches and awesome talented signers, and we bring Fairport's motto of CARE (civility, awareness, respect, and embrace) alive. I could not imagine my life without Brotherhood-Sisterhood week.
3. You never expect a snow day.
If you go to Fairport, you know that you will never get a snow day. Even hoping for one is just wishful thinking and you know your dreams will be subject to destruction. The plows are amazing at their jobs and extremely dedicated, so even after a terrible storm of lake effect snow, the roads will be completely cleared by the 6 A.M. the next day. I swear, if everyone took their jobs as seriously as the plowers do in Fairport, we'd have no issues in the world.
4. Wegmans is an integral part of your life.
The teachers always wonder why the seniors bolt to get out of the school for lunch, but little do they know, we're all just running to get to Wegmans. From the pre-made section to the subs and the pizza, Wegmans has literally anything you could ever dream of wanting. One time, during lunch, I saw a fellow Fairport student eat a full rotisserie chicken. It was quite impressive and a little disturbing, but nevertheless, these are the types of privileges you have when you have a Wegmans nearby.
6. Crowds ain't no thang.
When your graduating class has about 600 kids in it, you know how to deal with people. Standstills are so common in the intersections because we have so many kids in such a small building, and you are forced to get used to sharing your personal space. A personal bubble? What's that?
7. You're awesome at hiking at an intense incline.
Let's be real, if you haven't had to hike up Brooks Hill, then you haven't really gotten the full Raider experience. Getting up Brooks Hill may be the hardest task to ever complete, but once you do complete it, it feels like you're a true Raider. It also feels a bit sweaty.
8. You were never a real freshman.
Fairport is possibly the only school district with a separate freshman school, which means Fairport students never really were a freshman. It was more like 8th grade repeated in a school across the street.
9. You have had awesome teachers.
Explaining some of the teachers we have in Fairport to other people is next to impossible. We have some amazing teachers who care so much about every student they have, despite the large abundance of students. I miss seeing Kyle Hargrave's smiling face every day, and I miss the chemistry songs Mr. Ognibene showed us. The amazing teachers are why college students are always visiting Fairport, despite how much they "hated" it.
10. You have Port Pride.
The support system in our town when a tragedy hits is heartwarming and makes me swell with pride for our school district. The amazing teachers, the talented students, and the positive atmosphere throughout all the schools in the district make me so incredibly proud to have attended such an amazing district throughout my entire life. Port Pride for life!
