In years past, Sage Hill students were instructed to plan and perform a live skit for Accepted Student Day. Each grade level and their co-chairs prepared and rehearsed whenever possible, not a great start as Sage Hill students aren’t exactly known for their ample free time. 

Paired with uncooperative technology and other day-of mishaps, this resulted in a vast catalog of performances that may not have left accepted students with the intended perception of Sage Hill. This year, however, the Accepted Students Day entertainment would be a little different.

A little over a week before Accepted Student Day, it was announced that the grade levels would each be presenting a pre-recorded music video rather than a live skit. Even on paper, this makes a lot more sense to achieve the goals of an Accepted Student Day performance. Sage Hill’s first impression on accepted students should be somewhat polished. Pre-recorded music videos have the luxury of editing which add another layer of professionalism to the performance that simply could not exist prior. 

Another important part of both the skits and music videos is the class-wide participation aspect of performing/filming. It’s far easier to get more people featured in a music video than a live skit. Not only because being filmed is far less nerve-wracking than live performance, but also because music videos usually move a little faster and thus lend themselves to giving a more diverse pool of students the spotlight. 

Even preparing a music video feels more intuitive than a skit. Since there isn’t much time to plan, only having to pick which pre-existing song to use is a far more reasonable request than planning and rehearsing an entire skit, especially considering the time restraint. And for the most part, this year’s music videos delivered and students took advantage of the new medium and created solid finished products ready for incoming freshmen to watch. Clean cuts, more people, strange dances, the music videos had it all.

It just goes to show that when Sage Hill students don’t need to come up with a random story about the six C’s, they’re free to do what they really want to do: make a two-minute Tik-Tok. And while these videos were definitely a step up from the usual entertainment on Accepted Student Day, there is definitely a case to be made for how charming the live skits could be, however awkward. Part of what constitutes that charm is the honesty of it all. What students saw and performed every year in the gym was barely rehearsed, unedited, and unadulterated by glitz or glamor.

Did a little glitz or glamor ever hurt anybody? No, but sometimes it can distract from the personality such a collaboration already naturally oozes. That being said, if the music video trend continues, it will probably be for the best. Although, the live skits will forever be a part of Sage Hill history and will never be forgotten, whether you’d like them to or not.