I remember participating in my first homecoming week as a freshman with so much fondness. I was so excited to be involved in something that brought the entire campus together. It was an opportunity to make friends, to experience new things, to learn about my college, and most of all, to show school spirit! I’ll especially never forget helping my sorority’s homecoming court candidate, hanging banners and chalking her name across campus. I never imagined that four years later, I would be painting my own banners and wearing my own sash.
Each year, my sorority, Alpha Chi Omega, votes on a homecoming queen candidate to best represent our organization. When I heard applications were open, I was extremely hesitant. I had been encouraged to run by my friends, but, frankly, it was an absolutely terrifying prospect! It took a lot of courage for me to believe I could be the right person to represent all of the strong women in Alpha Chi Omega. But I took a chance and gave a very shaky speech outlining my campus involvement. I didn’t really believe I would get the nomination, but I did, and I genuinely cannot express how honored I am that my sisters chose me.
As a candidate, I competed against four other women for the title of homecoming queen at my school, Missouri State University. We created Instagram accounts to promote our candidacy, painted signs, hung posters, created buttons, visited organizations, and participated in each and every homecoming event. All of this hard work led up to the final day of homecoming week — the busiest day, complete with a parade, the homecoming tailgate, and then, of course, the football game. At halftime, the candidates participate in a coronation, which is when the winner is announced.
It was such a surreal experience that I got to share with incredible student leaders, and I wouldn’t change a thing about it. Now, I’m so thrilled I get to share how it all turned out.
6:30 a.m.: Wake Up & Eat Breakfast
My day starts bright and early because, of course, I have to make sure every hair is in place for the homecoming parade. I start my Keurig and scramble an egg, taking my breakfast into the bathroom where I’ll get ready for my day.
7:00 a.m.: Makeup, Hair, & Dress
It’s far too early, but I do my best to make sure my hair and makeup are impeccable; I know there won’t be time to come back home after the parade, and I can already imagine the number of photos that will be taken. When it’s time to get dressed, I take a look around at the plethora of formal dresses scattered across my bathroom. There are so many choices! It feels like all 150 of my sorority sisters volunteered their dresses for me to borrow for my big day. I settle on a simple purple dress with an open back, courtesy of my sorority sister, Gracie. After slipping into my heels and pinning my sash, I’m headed out the door.
8:30 a.m.: Meet Up With the Other Candidates
It takes me at least 10 minutes to find the meeting spot, but miraculously, I’m not the last one to arrive. I frantically glue on my press-on nails as we wait. Once everyone is there, we pair off — one queen candidate with one king candidate — and each duo climbs into one of five gorgeous white Mustangs. It’s a surreal experience. I turn around to see all the handmade floats and high school bands behind me. I was in a parade once as a kid because I won an art contest; it’s funny to look back on that now. I never would have guessed that at 21 years old, I’d be sitting on the back of a sports car and waving to crowds like a real-life princess.
9:00 a.m: Parade Starts
I share the Mustang with a king candidate who is beaming with excitement (mostly because of the sports car, if I had to guess). We can’t help but laugh at ourselves as our car drives past crowds of students, families, faculty, and staff who take photos of us as we wave. About halfway through, I see my family, who shout for me and take photos aggressively until I pass. This is shortly followed by a horde of my sorority sisters, who compete to cheer louder for me than all the other sororities do for their candidates. By the time we reach the end of the parade, my cheeks and jaw are sore from smiling.
10:00 a.m.: Visit My Friends
After the parade, since there’s nowhere I’m required to be until the football game starts at 2 p.m., my boyfriend and I decide to head to our friend’s apartment, where a group has gathered to celebrate before the tailgate. We spend about an hour laughing and playing games before heading out for lunch.
11:00 a.m.: Lunch With My Family
We meet my parents and grandparents for lunch. I’m starting to get nervous and barely touch my salad, but it’s nice to spend time with my family. As an out-of-state student, it’s only a few times each year that I get to see all of my family members in the same room.
12:30 p.m.: Tailgate
I feel silly walking into the tailgate in my heels and dress, but it’s what the candidates do every year. I locate my boyfriend and his fraternity’s tent easily and spend a few minutes catching up with them before running into a group of my sorority sisters. I’m anxiously watching the clock, making sure I’m not late to meet the other candidates outside the stadium.
2:00 p.m.: Football Game
Outside the stadium, I find the other homecoming candidates. They’re easy to spot in their suits and colorful dresses. As we wait to enter, our friends walk past, wishing us luck, hugging us, and taking pictures. We take the elevator to the top of the stadium, where we’ll spend the first half of the game. I chat nervously with the other candidates. As court members, we’ve participated in daily competitive events and have spent the past week together. It has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and we spend our time reminiscing together as we anxiously wait to be led down to the field for coronation.
4:15 p.m.: Waiting
As the clock hits eight minutes left in the second quarter, we’re led down to the field. We split into our king-and-queen pairs and line up, ready to march across the field. Then we wait… and wait… and wait. The last two minutes of the game feel like 20. Nervously, the queen candidates pass around lip gloss and check each other’s hair. We may be competitors, but it’s a sisterhood. We’ve all put everything we have into our campaigns, and we know there will be no hard feelings, no matter the outcome.
4:30 p.m.: Halftime
After what feels like an eternity, we begin to walk across the field. My partner and I stop on our mark, the 35-yard line. We’re both shaking a little. I’ve made my peace with the fact that, win or lose, the experience was all worth it, but it’s nerve-racking to stand out there in front of thousands and thousands of people. I look up to see a huge crowd of my sorority sisters in the stands — they’re all cheering for me. It makes me a little emotional to see them. Four years of chapter meetings, spring break trips, and long days during polish week have all led me here. I couldn’t be more grateful for their support and trust in me over the past month.
Each candidate is introduced one by one: name, year in school, hometown, major… I’m the final candidate recognized, and the crowd cheers. I wave up at my sorority, barely recognizing their faces from so far away. I can see my parents taking photos of me from their seats at the top of the stadium. It doesn’t feel real. I smile up at all of them, thankful for the opportunity to be standing on the field.
4:36 p.m.: Coronation
They announce the homecoming king first: “Sam Wang!” The crowd goes wild as Sam crosses the field to be crowned. I squeeze my partner’s arm. He didn’t win, but he ran an incredible campaign and had fun with it. It may be hard to remember it in the moment, but that’s really what matters. The announcer doesn’t wait long before announcing the homecoming queen. I can feel myself shaking a little as I watch the cameras turn toward another candidate, and my heart drops. I don’t need to hear the announcer to know it’s not me.
4:40 p.m.: Leaving the Field
Smiling, I blow a kiss to my girls up in the stands as we leave the field. I hug the other queen candidates as we tell each other how proud we are of the work we’ve all done. I find my boyfriend near the concession stand, and he pulls me into a hug and tells me how proud he is of me. I can’t help but tear up a little. The emotions of the day are overwhelming, and honestly, I’m sad it’s all ending.
5:00 p.m.: Sweats & Dinner
After congratulating the newly crowned queen and king, my family heads to the car. We stop by my apartment so I can change into my sweatpants, which I’ve been dreaming of all day, and we head to dinner. It’s nice to relax after such a long day, and I’m suddenly aware of how little I ate at lunch. We laugh and eat way too much food. It warms my heart.
8:00 p.m.: Drinks WIth My Parents
We drop my grandparents off at their hotel, and my parents and I head out to get a drink. Time flies as we laugh, and I share the ups and downs of running a homecoming campaign. I don’t see my parents often, and it’s nice to catch up in person. They’re both alumni of Missouri State, and I can tell how proud they are that I took such a risk in running for homecoming queen. One of their best friends in college was also on homecoming court. She didn’t win either, they tell me, but everyone still talks about her campaign. It makes me feel better to hear, and I’m glad they came to support me.
10:00 p.m.: Wine Night WIth Friends
After a very long day, what I need most is some time with my best friends. I head over to my best friend Katie’s apartment. We met in our sorority freshman year, and have spent almost every spare minute together since then. My campaign manager, Collin, arrives shortly after with a bottle of wine — just what I needed. We spend the rest of the night laughing and reminiscing over the last month. It was hard work, but I would do it again in a heartbeat.