Ask Week is a tradition at Oakmont where students submit their homecoming asks to the Oakmont Instagram page, @theoakmontway, in a competition for free homecoming tickets. These “asks” often involve students making creative posters to ask their dates to homecoming.
Between Sept. 4 and 13, participants sent their photos to @theoakmontway, where students voted on their favorite post. The winners would then receive free homecoming tickets.
The winners of this year’s ask week were juniors Micheal Sevilla and Scarlett Martin.
Despite knowing each other since middle school, Sevilla and Martin started getting close sophomore year through the video game Omori. They have been together for more than seven months.
For the couple, this upcoming homecoming is a special experience.
“I’m excited for this homecoming in particular because I’ll be able to go with someone I’m very comfortable with,” Sevilla said.
Martin mentioned that she was particularly excited for the mosh pit.
Sevilla asked Martin at a San Francisco beach, after their cross country meet. They originally planned to just go to the beach together to take photos and recreate the album cover of Lamp’s “For Lovers”, but Sevilla decided two days prior that it would be a good opportunity to surprise Martin.
“I stayed up all night making the sign the day before the meet,” Sevilla said. “The planning on how to surprise her wasn’t perfectly planned out, but it ended up working in the end.”
“I honestly just didn’t expect it or see it coming,” Martin said. “I appreciated the effort not only in making the poster but keeping it a surprise.”
As a result of winning this year’s ask week, the couple received free homecoming tickets.
“I am very happy that we get to save money,” Sevilla said.
“Now we have to pay our key club dues,” Martin said.
Although many homecoming asks may be as a result of romantic interest, that may not always be the case.
Seniors Xavier Royer and Dominic Siino were the thirteenth entries into the Ask Week contest.
Royer and Siino met at freshman orientation and became friends when they ran cross country together.
“My first impression of Dominic was that he was very loud and had a lot of funny jokes,” Royer said.
The ask poster also reflects the humorous nature of their friendship, as seen by the text on the poster “Are you free hoco tickets? Cuz I want you so badly.”
Royer shared that although he didn’t particularly care for school dances, this homecoming would be more special to him since it would be his last.
“I’ve only [gone] to homecoming freshman year and now this year,” Royer said. “But it’ll be fun this year since it’s our last.”
Siino, on the contrary, viewed the event more lightly.
“I’m going to try to find a way to leave as soon as possible,” Siino said.
As part of advice to other students, Royer commented that homecomings both contribute to school spirit and help build memories.
“Have fun and enjoy the opportunity you have to be in high school,” Royer said. “Make the most of it.”
