The Presentation Fashion Show is an event that is well attended but even more well known for its substantial contributions to Presentation’s work scholarship fund. As tradition goes, it’s a night filled with glitz and glam, where Pres alumni and parents gather to support the school as select members of the senior class strut their stuff on the runway.

However, the fashion show is also notoriously known for causing chaos among the senior class. Because students have to wait four years before they have a chance to be a model for the fashion show, they are especially peeved when they don’t get picked for the job. Furthermore, because the selection process is said to decide models based on a student’s involvement in the school, Pres girls are angered when their extracurricular activities are deemed unworthy.

While it’s definitely understandable for Pres girls to be a little upset if they are not chosen to model in the show, downright outrage is not the way to go. Students shouldn’t base their outlook on their entire high school career on whether or not they modeled in their high school fashion show. The knowledge gained and friendships made at this school are by far more important than the fleeting memories we will have of one fashion show weekend. In a few years, no one will even remember which senior was chosen for this event. As Ms. Miller reminded the senior class, even she wasn’t selected to be a model her senior year, but yet, life went on.

Moreover, contrary to popular belief, the fashion show is not about the models or hostesses—it’s supposed to be centered on raising money for other students’ tuition. If one steps back to look at the bigger picture, it may seem odd that an event that was originally focused on philanthropy has somehow grown into a competition throughout the senior class. Maybe if students took the main idea of the fashion show into consideration, there wouldn’t be such widespread unrest among the student body.

Therefore, the selection process that ‘elects’ models to the Fashion Show is just fine the way it is. Half the students are chosen by merit while the other half are selected based on pure luck of the draw. Furthermore, according to event coordinator Ms. Spencer, the physical drawing of participants in the fashion show was publicized to the students, outruling the possibility for a ‘conspiracy.’ This process leaves the majority of Presentation’s most involved students satisfied that their hard work paid off and another group of students who perhaps weren’t as involved pleasantly surprised with an opportunity to represent their class.

One must remember that, in the real world, models are typically assessed solely on exterior qualities: beauty and height. Given the stigma of fashion shows and modeling in general, Presentation does a fine job of choosing their models based on worthy qualities such as involvement and school spirit.

Spending time out on the field is also said to relieve stress and the burden of excessive amounts of homework. According to an article by Joseph Plazo of StressLive.Com, “It’s imperative to partake in physical exercise because inspiring the body refreshes the mind. Our brain requires activity by the rest of our body in order to regenerate the senses and enhance performance.” Exercise is an essential component of mental and physical help, much like sleeping and eating. Junior and golfer Jessie Walsh said, “Sports is an outlet for stress. It gets your mind off school.”
For many Presentation students, dedication to both sports and academics is a testament to their willingness to balance their lives in order to learn lifelong skills, forge bonds of friendship, and relieve stress on the court, field, diamond, green, track, or wherever their sport takes them. Despite the struggles of the daily balancing act, many students find involvement in sports rewarding. For some, it boosts self-esteem and confidence along with lasting implications for their future.

Sports are teachers without white boards, tests without grades, and homework assignments without point values. Athletes are evaluated by their ability to work with others, make progress, and think logically. It’s not about whether you make the grade; it’s about learning from mistakes and taking away the greater message.