On November 6th, Centennial’s annual Humsgiving celebration once again brought together students from all four sections of the Humanities program, offering a rare opportunity for connection beyond classrooms and grade levels.
Humanities is a program that is only offered at Centennial, featuring a challenging course of classes throughout all four years of high school that an incoming 9th grader can sign up for. In past years, the Humanities program has contained very academically driven students and thus, an intellectual, yet competitive environment.
The Humanities program offers a special curriculum that blends both the English and History classes, allowing for a broader understanding of the two subjects. Naturally, the Humanities students form great friendships with each other as they end up being classmates for all four years of high school.
Humanities board member Henry Berger explains, “Humsgiving is an event where all four sections of Humanities come together to have fun and spend time with each other.” Reflecting the holiday of Thanksgiving, Humsgiving was a time to celebrate the Humanities community and the things the students have in common, as well as appreciating what makes Humanities so special in the first place.
In a world that often feels divided, the Humsgiving’s message of unity resonated deeply. As Humanities board member Satvik Jain reflected, “If we did not have events like these, interactions in Humanities would remain strictly between people of the same grades.” With events like Humsgiving, it allows for the fostering of a community and forming connections with people of various backgrounds. “In a world that is becoming more and more divided, events like these are becoming more and more important.”
That sense of shared community was felt throughout the event. Students talked, laughed, and discussed their classes and teachers across grades, embodying the inclusive spirit that Humanities is known for! It truly felt like we were a community. The question of “what grade are you in” was more of an afterthought shared by Jain.
For many, Humsgiving served as a reminder of the unique culture within the program. “The thing I love most about Humanities is the community that it forms,” Berger said. “It feels like the connections that Humanities students have with each other and with their teachers are really special.”
As Jain explains, “We were all Hum students, so that is the general connection. It feels normal because that truly is the Humanities program.”
