College merchandise at DHS

PHOTO: Steven Zhang reps his UC Berkeley Merch.

By Naneh Grigor

BlueDevilHUB.com Staff–

As high school students learn about the schools they want to attend after graduation, they acquire merchandise during college tours. Yet many students don’t attend the schools for which they bought hats, sweaters, and shirts. 

Senior Sophia Cammarosano recently committed to Saint Mary’s College of California, and while on her trip to admitted students day, she purchased a sweatshirt. “I figured that I’m gonna end up having a collection of Saint Mary’s stuff, so might as well start now,” she said. 

However, she also has sweaters from Occidental College, UC Davis, and UCLA. “My family went to/worked at those schools, so I want to represent them or even just wear at home,” Cammarosano said. 

She also follows the sports for the schools, especially when their season is at a peak. “I love watching college sports, and wearing a shirt that supports that team shows that I stay involved during the whole season, especially when I’m following more than one school,” Cammarosano said. 

Senior Brynn Vikstrom has already had three siblings leave the nest and move on to college and grad school. “Each time one of my siblings committed to a school, we threw a bed party for them, and I was only nine when [my older sister] went to UCLA, so I liked to take her leftover hoodies, and they’re basically mine now,” Vikstrom said. 

“We would go to the football games a lot when I was younger, and that gave me a chance to really wear the merch surrounded by college kids cheering for their team, and I got to be a part of that, which was pretty cool,” Vikstrom said. Wearing college merch brings people closer to the school, whether or not it’s their own. 

Eventually, when seniors decide where they are going and move in, they will leave their merch behind to wear during breaks when they come home. “Because I grew up in Davis and went to the Aggies games, I have tons of UC Davis stuff, but when I end up going to whatever school, I’ll wear that merch instead,” Vikstrom said.