Why Mount St. Joseph Students Should Wear Polos Year-Round

I believe students at Mount St. Joseph should be allowed to wear polos year-round because they are comfortable, easy to wear, and still look professional. Polos make getting ready for school in the morning much easier because you can put one on and head straight out the door. They also come in different colors, and I think they all look nice, from light colors to navy blue. Wearing polos all year would give students a simple, comfortable uniform while still representing our school positively.

Another reason I think we should wear polos all year is because of the older polo designs from back in the day at the Mount. I have seen some of the older styles, and I think they look pretty cool. Bringing some of those designs back would be a great way to connect current students with the school’s history. It would also give new students the chance to wear a piece of the Mount’s tradition and make those older styles part of our uniform again. Our uniforms do not always have to change completely to feel new. Sometimes, bringing back something from the past can make the school feel even more connected to its history.

A group of 12 male students posing together, smiling and wearing school attire, in front of a building with a stone wall.

During the second and third quarters, we have to wear dress shirts and ties as part of our uniform. I really like the way the dress uniform looks. I think students look professional when they wear a dress shirt and tie, and I believe we should continue wearing them for special events, such as Mass, important school ceremonies, and other formal occasions. Wearing a dress shirt and tie also teaches students how to dress professionally. It helps us learn how to tie a tie, button a shirt correctly, and prepare ourselves for situations where we need to look our best. These skills can help us later in life.

However, wearing a dress shirt and tie every day can be uncomfortable and take more time to get ready. Getting ready in the morning is not always as simple as putting on a polo. You have to look in the mirror, make sure your tie is straight, check that your shirt is clean, and make sure everything looks right. If you forget to iron your shirt the night before because you are studying or finishing homework, you might have to wake up earlier just to get it ready. This can add stress to an already busy morning, especially for students who have early practices, long commutes, or a lot of schoolwork to finish.

Wearing polos year-round could also make mornings easier and let students spend more time on other important things. Students could use that extra time to eat breakfast, prepare for the school day, or get a little more rest. Polos are also easier to maintain because they usually require less preparation than a dress shirt and tie. Even though students should still learn to dress professionally, they don’t necessarily need to wear formal clothing every day to learn those skills.

A professional conversation taking place between two individuals in an office setting, with one person in a purple shirt and the other in a patterned tie, engaged in discussion while seated at a glass table.

I believe MSJ should allow students to wear polos throughout the entire school year while keeping the dress shirt and tie uniform for special events. This would balance comfort, convenience, and professionalism. The school could still maintain its traditions while making the daily uniform easier for students to manage. Wearing polos all year would not mean getting rid of the school’s identity. Instead, it would give students a comfortable way to represent the Mount every day while saving the more formal uniform for the occasions when it matters most.