People use photography to document crucial moments and share their memories with others. Taking photos encourages engagement among individuals and can strengthen relationships by providing an access point for human connection and creating shared knowledge. For instance, many people use photos to update distant friends or relatives about their lives.

When posing for a picture, it’s customary to smile or put on a cheerful expression, and according to Stanford University research scientist Dr. Nicholas Coles, even faking a smile can improve a person’s mood: The brain links the action of smiling with optimism, triggering a sense of happiness.

Alongside posing in photos, viewing photos can also boost people’s moods. Behavioral psychologist Jo Hemmings led a 2020 study for photo company CEWE to learn how viewing photos impacts individuals’ mood. The study showed that these pictures triggered emotions such as delight and happiness, promoting a sense of well-being and providing increased personal welfare.

While many feel that taking pictures distracts from being in the moment, in reality, it simply provides the photographer with a greater appreciation for detail. Many things go unnoticed in a typical setting, but when a camera is out, people often analyze the smaller things, which contributes to an enhanced understanding of their environment.

Although some associate taking photos with a toxic sense of comparison to others, this isn’t always the case. Social media promotes those ideals and negative mindsets, not the photos themselves, which can be used to appreciate the beauty of a subject. Instead of viewing photos as a distraction or detriment, individuals should value them for their ability to help connect family and friends and make both photographers and viewers happy. Photography provides opportunities for interaction, bringing people together with a simple click.

In contrast to past spring spirit weeks, which have usually included schoolwide dress-up themes and lunch activities, SPROCO will be similar to �鶹��ӳ���coming Week, with daily grade-specific dress-up themes and games during brunch, lunch and PRIME.

Some brunch and lunch games — such as Balloon Stomp, in which participants attempt to pop as many of their opponents’ balloons as possible — are repeats from �鶹��ӳ���coming Week activities. Others, such as Obstacle Course and Pool Relay, will be reworked versions of
their �鶹��ӳ���coming Week counterparts. The week will also feature completely new events: In Pizza Noodles, competitors will hold a pizza box in their palm while trying to knock others’ boxes off with a foam pool noodle.

According to organizer senior Chris Lee, school board representative and managing editor for �鶹��ӳ���, SPROCO emerged from an SEC impact project, in which SEC members create a new event, initiative or system that benefits the student body. Senior Class Vice President Naya Nebriaga is also on the SPROCO team and has high hopes for student engagement.

“Because seniors tied (during �鶹��ӳ���coming Week) this year, I think that was more of a driving force to make (SPROCO) actually happen,” she said.

SEC created a reveal video for SPROCO, released during PRIME on Feb. 28. The video featured Lee and Nebriaga in a flashback to October’s �鶹��ӳ���coming Week and teased some grade-specific themes — including “�鶹��ӳ���coming Deja Vu,” in which the dress-up for each grade is pulled from October’s homecoming.

“At first, it was difficult coming up with an idea because we’re not revealing a theme — we’re revealing the week itself,” Lee said. “But I actually think that worked out better in the long run because we were able to start from a blank slate and have a more creative plot.”

Through this reveal video — past ones have helped publicize schoolwide events — Instagram posts and posters around campus, SEC hopes to increase and participation.

Beyond SEC, students are looking forward to participating in the new spirit week. Freshman Audrey Berger hasn’t experienced major spirit events other than �鶹��ӳ���coming Week and anticipates enjoying SPROCO.

“I’ve heard that (SPROCO) wasn’t really a strong tradition until this year, and I think it’s really cool that as a freshman, I get to experience that,” she said.