by Russell Irons ’19

Every teen nowadays is familiar with memes. They are a key source of entertainment even if they are often an abstract concept to adults. For the first time in Sherwood history, students (myself included) started making Instagram accounts to share memes about life at school and under MCPS. Through these memes, Sherwood students found common ground and united, displaying unity in a manner Principal Eric Minus likely did not expect.

The Sherwood memes are parodies of life at school and often hit on shared frustrations. They range from wholesome and innocent to politically incorrect and edgy. I started making Sherwood memes to vent in a safe way about whatever happened to be angering me that day. I used topics such as Dr. Minus, security, and new school policies. While many things and people were satirized, there is no malice or ill intent behind the memes. Posted with #onesherwood, the account quickly spread to hundreds of Sherwood students. As time went on, the account evolved into a sort of student-driven community page existing outside the jurisdiction of administration and the school. Content changed to include things that were not memes, but also triumphant moments for the student body. Unity Week was a veritable boon of content, and all three major accounts continued to spread.

Arguably the greatest thing about these accounts is that they transcend cliques, social groups, and grades. No matter who you are, everyone likes memes and complaining about school. The meme accounts have united the student body more than any pep rally ever could. The school’s knowledge of their existence and lack of opposition is a surprise, to be sure, but a welcome one. Student-driven ventures such as these are key to a sense of belonging and unity that should remain uninfringed by the school