As students in dresses and suits line the streets of Chino Hills, citizens assume it is for an annual dance at their local high school; however, this may not truly be the case this year. For many students, instead of attending Homecoming, they partook in an uprising trend, Fake, or Faux, Homecoming (FOCO), where students got into their best attire and glam to go take pictures. The reason for this comes from a variety of causes ranging from the great price of tickets to it not being an enjoyable event.
Many people did not want to attend Homecoming for a variety of reasons, some being that last year’s dance did not meet expectations, expensive ticket prices, and the overall lack of activities. Tickets for this year were $75 without a USB card and $65 with a USB card. These prices are steep for some students, as many students do not have a job, and it can cost a pretty penny for parents. Additionally, many students may have heard that the activities available were not worth the amount of money they were paying, as they were not entirely entertaining.
“I think people did not want to go because the tickets were way too expensive, and $75 is a lot of money in today’s economy,” Wesley O’Neill (10) said. “Combined with that, from what I’ve heard, last year’s Homecoming was just okay, so I understand why many people didn’t want to go.
Although many students did not find a reason to spend a good amount of money on a ticket, they were able to find a different output for their time on Homecoming night. FOCO has been a growing trend on social media, where instead of going to the dance, students go with friends to a location with beautiful scenery to take pictures as if they were going to Homecoming. Additionally, students do a variety of other activities like going to dinner or going to coffee shops to enjoy their time.
“I did not go to homecoming this year. Instead, I went to take pictures with my friends at a park, had a nice dinner, and got boba,” Emma Wang (11) said. “All you need for a memorable night is what you make of it with the people around you.”
With the growing rise of FOCOs, there were many students that did not attend Homecoming. On the other hand, those who did go to the dance believe that it was a night to remember. This year, there were nicer cushioned seats with round tables allowing big groups of people to sit together, a DJ inside blasting music to dance to, a karaoke and Mario Kart station, and several photo opportunities. With all these activities, it was more enjoyable for everyone as they could all be with their own friends and partake in any activity available to them. Because of all of the activities available to them, students felt that it allowed them to have an unforgettable night with friends.
“I was truly fulfilled at Homecoming with my friends. It was a memorable and fun night that I will never forget,” Aiza Khan (10) said.
Over the years, there will always be differing opinions on Homecoming–whether it is worth the money, on theme, or if it truly is a great place to be at. Yet, as long as you make the most of the night, it can truly be a night to remember, whether you attend it or not.
“I think that it is fun for a bit but I can think of other cheaper activities to do instead,” Wang said. “Still, I believe USB does a great job in trying to create a fun dance, but I do think that a lot of students are opting out just because of the price and activities.”
