Fall at St. Luke’s

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s the cooler weather begins to emerge, the arrival of the wonderful fall season is on everyone's mind. To me, fall embodies a collection of comforting and exciting experiences: pumpkin spice everything, cozy sweaters, the excitement of football season, and, of course, the fun of Halloween. Although fall technically starts on September 22nd, in Mobile, Alabama—where I live—fall doesn't truly begin until the temperatures drop, usually toward the end of October. On campus, I personally define the start of fall as the time when we can comfortably wear our jackets or blazers all day without needing to take them off as soon as we step outside the classroom.

During the fall months, high school students, including myself, spend our Friday nights cheering on our Wildcat football teams with an abundance of school spirit. One of my favorite parts is dressing up in theme and taking cute pictures beneath the stadium lights. While my outfits may seem a bit dainty, I’m always fully immersed in the game, cheering loudly and blowing my horn after every touchdown, incredible pass, or game-changing tackle. Win or lose, our Wildcat pride never diminishes. In this tight-knit community, Wildcats always support each other, and that sense of pride is what makes our school so special.

The fall season also brings two major holidays, each filled with wonderful memories. The first, of course, is Halloween. Finding the perfect costume is always an adventure, and everyone approaches it differently. Some people aim for cute costumes, others prefer spooky looks, and some go for humorous outfits that guarantee a good laugh. Personally, I enjoy creating funny costumes—something unique that no one else is likely to wear. My costumes might be a little difficult to move in or even slightly embarrassing to some, but I love making people laugh. Last year, despite Halloween falling on a school night, my friends and I couldn’t resist staying out late to go trick-or-treating. At St. Luke’s, we have some fantastic Halloween traditions, like trunk-or-treat and an out-of-uniform day where everyone gets to dress up in costumes.

The second big holiday in the fall is Thanksgiving. For me, Thanksgiving is all about enjoying a delicious home-cooked meal and spending quality time with family. The break from school during Thanksgiving week is a much-appreciated bonus. My family usually stays in town to celebrate, gathering with loved ones to enjoy the holiday meal, but I know others who take advantage of the time off to travel and visit extended family. Both of these holidays perfectly capture the essence of fall, representing a season of fun, laughter, and meaningful time spent with family and friends.

I recently had the opportunity to speak with a few St. Luke’s students who experienced the fall on the Japonica campus and were eager to share their fond memories. Presley Jackson recalled her favorite fall activity: carving and painting pumpkins. She loved that her parents were able to join her on campus and spend time together while they carved pumpkins as a family. Another student, Ahja Wilder, spoke about the excitement of participating in the campus’s haunted house tradition. Each year, the 5th graders would design a haunted house, and during the fall festival, students and parents alike would walk through and enjoy the spooky experience. Ahja vividly remembered her 5th-grade year when they created a Harry Potter-themed haunted house, complete with representations of the various Hogwarts houses. Lily mentioned how much she cherished the annual Thanksgiving Feast tradition. The students would dress up as either Native Americans or Pilgrims and share a Thanksgiving meal with their parents, creating lasting memories.

Though it's not fall in Stars Hollow, fall at St. Luke's in Mobile holds just as many fun traditions and beautiful weather. St. Luke's hits its stride in fall, leaves and all.