Go to any athletic event and you’ll experience Charger Pride. At football games, "The Jungle" (student section) is all about showing Charger Pride, united in school spirit. All of that positive energy flows down on the field of play and inspires the competing athletes.
However, as Luke Williams '18 explains, “Charger Pride, the aphoristic school chant, means a lot more than most corny phrases shouted at the football games. It means that you live with integrity, with purpose, excitement, passion, engagement. It means that you are there for your friends and they are here for you, and this includes the teachers and faculty.” Charger Pride is about showing devotion and spirit to your school and ultimately parallels the Heritage Hall mission statement and the Charger Code, "To learn with honor, to lead with integrity, and to serve with compassion."
You'll witness Charger Pride personified when you see an experienced athlete helping a younger player improve and prepare for athletic competition, leading by example rather than by intimidation. You'll experience Charger Pride in action when you see an athlete learning his sport with honor – touching that line, finishing that lap strong, running all the way through that base – because Chargers know that if you don’t finish strong, you're only cheating yourself. You can see it in an athlete's discipline and coachability. You'll observe it when you see a Charger helping up a teammate or opponent, respecting another school's facility, greeting a Lower Schooler in the carpool line on Game Day, or rallying the team to make a difference serving an off-campus community organization. When Heritage Hall Alumni, young and old, return to campus to cheer on and support the programs they were once involved in as a student...that's Charger Pride.
You don't just automatically have it. Charger Pride is something you build by thought and action. As one faculty member observes, “Charger Pride is developed over time. It is learned from teachers, peers, and experiences that allow one to build a confidence and happiness about their school.” It is through continued engagement with the school community that one acquires a strong sense of Charger Pride.
The impact of Charger Pride is amazing. We are blessed to have a very special environment at Heritage Hall, one that allows everybody to work together and be a part of something great.
By Matthew Williams '20
