Pajamas, or laid back attire, has become normal at Mission Hills by the student body, creating a comfortable environment for those who choose to participate. As some may view this shift in expectations as an issue, it can be both supported and argued against depending on experiences of the individual.
“Wearing PJs makes me feel more comfortable, and I won’t have to waste time picking outfits every morning. If anything, you’re in what I’d say is a cozier headspace. I work best in cozy conditions. Besides that, I don’t believe that wearing pajamas interferes with academic work, mainly depending on the person,” said senior and cardinal student Cam Piotrowicz.
The timeline on when the tides shifted in clothing expectations is unclear. It can be theorized that it started post-COVID, when students were adjusting from working on classes both in and out of school. Although, it can otherwise just be something that students have always done; perhaps it just became more apparent to people once it was suspected to be the cause of lower academic performance or a sign of laziness among students. “I feel like half of all of my classes were wearing PJ pants of some sort. I do fine doing academic work in PJs, but I know some people having PJs on will mentally hinder them because their brain could be fighting relaxation over work. So in that way, yes, it would affect some people negatively,” said MHHS alumnus Jorge Ornelas, who graduated in 2021.
Gaining a teacher’s opinions and views on the subject leads to a more clear perspective on this trend within the school. Recollecting past years before lockdown and patterns of students who choose to wear PJs, in the words of a long time member of the school, is the following.
“I don’t recall a bunch of pajamas being worn before COVID. I’d say there is a direct relationship with the way you look is the way you feel. How you feel is how you perform, like sports. If we’re looking good, we’re feeling good,” said English teacher Jacob English.
