College Cup – Spirit Showdown
We’ve Got Spirit, Yes We Do!
While I enjoy cheering on my college in events like dodgeball, tug-of-war, and volleyball, one of my favorite events during College Cup is the Spirit Showdown. At noon on the Friday of College Cup, each college is given a selection of songs to choreograph a short dance to with six members, including a college mentor. Since the theme this year was the Olympics, our team was given a range of Olympic anthems, and Batson College decided on “Rise” by Katy Perry.
I think a decent portion of medical students don’t realize the amount of time and effort that goes into preparing for this particular event, as we not only have to learn a series of dance moves in synchrony with other members, but create the choreography from scratch. Likewise, when each of us is on a different schedule (some on clerkships, some in class), it can be difficult to find time in the afternoon for us all to meet! However, when we all come together, with varying backgrounds in exposure to dance, we are able to stay focused and put all our energy into making our college proud. Incorporating college mentors into the dances is another way each college adds more spirit to their performances, as Batson’s very own Dr. Pfeffer did an amazing job embracing the Phoenix spirit and cartwheeling his way to an awesome performance.
After the opening ceremonies, which involve each college creating a unique entrance to kick off the College Cup experience, the colleges are called to present their dances. As we’re performing, the initial anxiety quickly diminishes and is instead replaced with excitement as we rock our moves like the Bernie and hear not just Batson, but all colleges cheering us on. My favorite part of these dances is when we get our Batson student section incorporated into the performance, ending with our famous chant, “B-A-T-S-O-N, BATSON, BATSON, BATSON!”
Seeing the energy and enthusiasm everyone in our college has the first day of College Cup as well as knowing that I helped to contribute to that passion and drive to see our college succeed reminds me of the importance of each student’s roles in this two-day event. Whether we’re cheering in the stands or playing a close game of basketball, all these aspects of College Cup make it one of the best events we all look forward to each year. And with that, I end with two words: GO BATSON! 🙂
