Three years ago, during my freshman year, LFHS had a greater sense of community and spirit. One of the key reasons for this was because of a fun weekly tradition: Groutfit Thursdays.

I believe all of the students at LFHS need to bring back this tradition.

A “groutfit” consists of an all-gray outfit, typically with gray sweatpants and a gray sweatshirt. Although it may seem like a boring outfit, bringing back Groutfit Thursdays could offer numerous benefits.

The routine of attending school week after week without anything to look forward to can get very old and exhausting. Introducing something as simple as wearing a groutfit every Thursday can add a little spark to your day, much like spirit weeks do.

Additionally, Groutfit Thursdays can foster a stronger sense of community within LFHS. They create an opportunity for students across different grades and friend groups to connect over a shared theme. By participating each week, students may find themselves talking to people they have never engaged with before or even make new friends over something so simple and fun.

I remember when I participated in my first Groutfit Thursday as a freshman, walking through the halls and receiving many compliments on my outfit from older students. Even though those compliments were an ironic joke because everyone was wearing the same thing, they still boosted my morale and helped me start conversations with people I looked up to.

Very few senior girls say they remember Groutfit Thursdays, and even fewer have participated. Many say this is because “it was a guy thing” or “only the boys wore groutfits.” 

 I believe everyone should participate in Groutfit Thursdays this year, and there’s an added advantage for girls.

Girls tend to spend significantly more time getting ready for school than boys, as they often put extra thought into what they are going to wear that day. This can lead to stress for many girls at LFHS, where there is greater pressure to dress up compared to other high schools in the area.

“If I don’t pick out my outfit the night before, it can take me extra time in the morning to pick out my outfit. I feel like having one day a week where my outfit is already chosen would make my week a little less stressful,” senior Noel Demetrio said.

Groutfit Thursdays would alleviate stress for both girls and boys because you would not have to think about what you are going to wear to school every Thursday–it’s already decided and is effortless. 

No one can judge you if everyone is wearing the same thing.

Last Wednesday, I spread the word with the help of my friends to wear groutfits the next day. The word spread quickly, and on Thursday, many students showed up wearing their groutfits. Some people opted for full sweatpants and sweatshirts, while others chose a t-shirt and shorts.

“I loved the first Groutfit Thursday of the year. Once we started talking about it on Tuesday, I’ve been looking forward to it all week,” senior Charlie Graham said. “I also want to bring it back because the seniors did it when I was a freshman, and I think we should continue that tradition.”

Despite the football team wearing their jerseys this Thursday for Thursday game day, that doesn’t mean the rest of the school can’t wear groutfits–or even a groutfit under their jerseys.

Let’s spread the word and increase participation so that groutfits fill the school every Thursday for the rest of the fall and winter seasons. Bring back the tradition from three years ago and carry it on.