Senior Alexandra Strode receives a big plastic bag, and rips through the bag quickly to uncover and reveal her letterman jacket. With much joy and delight she scans out the variety of patches on her letter jacket. She rejoices as she puts on her letterman, one leather sleeve at a time with much satisfaction to what she has attained. Letterman are Honorary jackets made of artificial leather or genuine leather that can be earned through certain participation in clubs, sports, organization, class. These jackets show off the school colors, and the accomplishments of the individual wearing it.

The misconception that one must be an upperclassmen to earn a lettermen is totally wrong, and lettermans are not limited to any grade level. Sophomore Antonio Lujan earned his jacket through cross country earlier than most.

“Some people didn’t believe it was mine and that I was wearing someone else’s, but I actually did get my letterman freshmen year,” Lujan said.

Earning letterman can be a challenging task as one has to meet organization or sport specific requirements to earn the jacket. For many sports, a student must make it onto the varsity team and complete a certain amount of events. For clubs and fine arts programs, the student usually has to work his or her way through a point system. Points are allotted by doing well at predetermined events, so it is not just a case of just showing up to events.

Strode earned her jacket in band by participating in solo and ensemble, qualifying for region band, and making it into symphony orchestra.

“What a lot of people don’t consider is the kind of effort [put] into earning the points to get the letterman,” Strode said. “In band I had to practice a lot of hours to do well at a lot of competitions.”

With the hard work that goes into earning a letterman, one also receives self improvement.

“While pursuing a letterman you’re not only pursuing a letterman you’re also pursuing personal improvement and personal achievement,” Strode said.

But it does not always have to be a strenuous task. Lujan a former varsity cross country runner, who dropped cross country to do marching band full time, has a tip for those ready to done the jacket.

“Look for a sport [or club] you really like, and try to be the best, but practice is key,” Lujan said.

Although earning a letterman can sound daunting or even intimidating, there are perks to it. A letterman shows one’s accomplishments through patches. Patches are add ons to the letterman which can show a variety of achievements in not only what one earns their letterman for but also from other clubs or sports. There are no limits to the amount of patches one can earn, Strodes sports 13 different patches from her four years in band. A letterman jacket typically starts at around $100 but can easily increase in price depending on how many patches one earns; each patch is custom made so prices per patch very and have a sewing fee with each patch sewed on. Depending on the sponsor of the club or sport, a student can receive a lettermen for free or at a reduced price. Senior varsity football player Robert Riles will receive his for free at the end of football season.

Lettermans serve as more than just outwear; they also garner attention in the form of positive feedback. Typically once the requirements for the letterman are achieved they are given out in groups at the end of a season and they celebrate with each other.

“We got it in a plastic bag, and we all wore it and showed off to everyone,” Lujan said. “I felt special, I felt like I really accomplished something great.”