Red and Gold is quickly approaching, and the season has been filled with FLEX practices, energy, rehearsals, and memories. Along with all the fun, Royals have noticed their classmates having Red and Gold glow-ups where girls have gotten significantly better at dancing, singing, or being a captain. 

Sara Garcia ’24 has experienced a glow-up in the drama category. She explains, “Freshman year I was cowgirl #1, and I auditioned for the lead part that year. I was convinced that I was going to get it, so I cried very hard when I didn’t. From then on, I worked hard to build up my acting skills, and I delivered the best lines of cowgirl #1 dialogue Red and Gold has ever seen. I kept working hard, and this year, I was able to land a lead role. I owe it all to my fantastic drama captains.”

Sophomore Bella Vallejo also went through a Red and Gold glow-up, but in the dance category: “I went from being in the back row my freshman year for the whole dance to now being in the front row my entire dance!” Along with other girls, Bella has experienced a classic Red and Gold glow-up, where the entire 6-week process allows them to thrive in the coming years. 

Mallory Mojica- Ye ’24 also had a glow-up, going higher up in the category hierarchy each year. She recalls, “My Red and Gold glow-up is gradual. I went from participant to fashion captain to dance captain my last two years.”

Red Producer Ava Fishman ’24 experienced a glow-up when she “started [her] freshman year on drill, and my sister was the producer, but obviously it wasn’t a real Red and Gold. My sophomore year, I wasn’t really planning on being a captain, but I just checked the box that I would do it if they wanted me to and became a fashion captain! I remember Daly Holman ‘22 told me that year I had to be co-producer next year, and Reagan Beuerlein ‘23 and I were paired together, had the best time, and brought home a win! After learning everything from Reagan my junior year as co-producer, I became producer this year, and it has been so, so fun!”

I myself have experienced a Red and Gold glow-up. As much as I thoroughly enjoy dancing, performing on stage leaves people describing me as uncoordinated or stiff. But throughout my four years of being on dance, many people, including my mom, have remarked that I have gotten better. I have a little bit more flow, less stiffness and follow the music on time.

Although the Red and Gold glow-ups are common amongst the Rosary girls, glow-downs are also just as common. Senior Gigi Coo describes her glow-down: “Going from White Team to Gold drama captain was the biggest transition in history. I went from sitting pretty, knowing both scripts, to stressing about 22 actors that I have to yell at to annunciate.”