While some Bearkats show school spirit through dress-up days and attending games, senior Nala Best finds that the best way to express her energy is in a school mascot costume. However, Best must say goodbye to the character she’s developed, and kiss her superhero-themed dreams goodnight.
“I would like to believe it was a complete secret,” Best said. “Because when my friends asked me if I was the mascot I would tell them ‘I just clean the suit.’ I prefer it to be more of a secret because the secret is a part of the mystique of being a mascot, it is like being a superhero.”
The dream of becoming the high school mascot all began after watching a Disney Channel classic, Good Luck Charlie. At an young age the episode inspired her to become the mascot and spread her own cheer.
“When I was 7, there was an episode about the mom’s High school mascot, Whammy,” Best said. “In my senior year, the opportunity opened up after the previous mascot graduated. I wanted to make sure the Boomer dancing mascot was always ready to bust a move and make others smile!”
With her long time goal achieved, becoming the mascot meant there were obstacles Best had to overcome. Because she was working in a 20-year-old sweat-filled costume with design restrictions, Best worked hard in order to overcome these difficulties. For Best, the key was to practice the difficult aspects, to familiarize herself so she could overcome the issues and provide her best performance.
“I would have to practice with the head on because it restricted some movements that I wished to perform,” Best said. “It also smells like a sweaty cardboard box after use in a 100 degree football game.”
While the restrictive movements and smell might have been difficult to deal with, the long legacy of past Boomer mascots inspired Best to put her best foot forward.
“I can really feel the presence of the past Boomers,” Best said. “It is a great honor that I got to follow in their footsteps and bring joy to those around me and pose for a memory that they may show to their future families when reflecting on their high school days.”
The hard work Nala put into her performances helped to hype up the crowd while also spreading to her team, her infectious joy motivating them to be their best.
“Nala inspired the team to be hyped up, be as silly as they possibly wanted no matter who was watching, and overall to be a better person,” junior Henna Jolly said. “She always wanted what was best for the team and that’s what I loved about Nala.”
While Best inspires her fellow students and team mates through her work as Boomer, her efforts as a friend inspire them just as much.
“In cheer she was one of my closest friends and she would always try and get me out of my comfort zone,” Jolly said. “Looking back without her I wouldn’t have done half the things I’ve done today. She inspired me to get out of my shell and I thank her for that. Just watching her in the Boomer outfit dancing and getting the audience hyped made me want to cheer more and louder also.”
Best hopes that the time she has spent as the mascot will boost school spirit and ignite a sense of school pride.
“I wish my peers at Klein will have a sense of pride for their High School. Not only when they see Boomer, but also when they support each other excelling in academics, arts, sports and culture events and take the time to learn the school song because the students are the voice of Boomer and Boomer ignites the school spirit.”
