It’s October and I’m excited about Halloween!

This holiday isn’t just for kids

Not only is October the beginning of autumn, it is also the month with my favorite holiday: Halloween! I’m thrilled to make my costume and go out with friends. However, I’m in high school now. That may not seem like much, but I feel like the students around me are acting more like adults and to them that means giving up trick-or-treating. Honestly, I think going door-to-door at night to get candy is still enjoyable. Hey, fellow teens, if you think you are too old to go trick-or-treating this year, I think you should reconsider and here are three reasons why.

Nostalgia: I’ll admit it, nostalgia is a big reason why I still want to go trick-or-treating. I don’t know if other students my age feel the same, but trick-or-treating was really something special when I was younger. The blissful memories of going door-to-door receiving candy and compliments about my costume made me feel so excited and happy. I remember the challenge of going to as many houses as possible and stuffing my bag to the very top. Then, when it got late and our feet became sore, my friends and I would get together and swap candy. These memories bring a smile to my face.

Costumes: When I was little, my costumes were store bought or reused. I remember dressing up as a black cat or a brown horse several years in a row. In 8th grade, however, I decided to be more original for a change. I created an old-fashioned television head for myself out of cardboard and a lot of tape. And it didn’t look half bad! 9th grade was when I leveled up my crafting skills. Instead of just a TV head, I made a whole outfit that took me several weeks. I found that dressing up in a homemade costume was so much more rewarding than wearing something store bought. If you have a creative side, or even if you don’t, I recommend taking some time to make your own costume this year. It doesn’t matter how scary it looks, as long as you have fun.

Friends: Apart from costume making, friends are so important to the Halloween experience. Without them, I wouldn’t have a reason to make a costume or go trick-or-treating. Who would I trade my Snickers and Twix to? Even if my friends and I no longer run from door to door like when we were little, we are still going to have just as much fun. Perhaps, we will have a big Halloween party with games and scary movies. As long as you are with friends, Halloween is sure to be fun.

What will you do this October 31st? Halloween brings back fond memories for me and I hope it does for you as well. I know I’m not going to be celebrating it like I used to when I was little but that’s okay. As a teen, we can celebrate this amazing holiday in new ways. From making your own costume to hanging out with friends at a spooky party, I hope you can make the most out of your Halloween. Oh, and don’t forget to do at least a little trick-or-treating!

Thanks for reading!

Mizuki Wong is a 10th grader at Mountainside High School. In their free time, they enjoy drawing, animating on YouTube, listening to music and learning about science.