“It’s not that serious. It’s just Spring Sing.”

By David Paul Kritz

Oklahoma Christian University has perhaps been the single greatest blessing of my life. My parents met here, many of my family members attended here, I have made great friends (one of whom I am going to marry), and I have grown in maturity, knowledge, and faith. This university has given me so much, so I’ve always wanted to give as much as I can back to it.

I have, quite literally, grown up watching Spring Sing. If you know me at all, then you might know my extraordinary (and huge) family. Watching cousin after cousin perform on the Hardeman stage, I grew a love for the show. It stands to reason then — growing up seeing the banners hung from the stage and the celebrations following Saturday night’s results — that I would develop aspirations to one day lead the fun myself.

Don’t get me wrong: I know Spring Sing exists because of the contest between clubs. To a large extent, this has led to better-quality shows, but it is mainly a competition. However, it seems like our generation isn’t exactly finding a solution to the problem of competitiveness turning into divisiveness. Facilitations of this overly-competitive drive, such as sports or elections, pluck at the heartstrings of individuals and further split people who could otherwise be together. In our own little world of Oklahoma Christian (some call it “the OC bubble”), there is no greater source of this feud than the on the stage for Spring Sing.

Without being too sappy or preachy or over-dramatizing things, I must say, we are at a great time and place to propagate change. Destroying the divisiveness of competition in the world begins by depleting the foothold it may have in our own lives. Perhaps Spring Sing can be an example of how we can be the change.

I will be the first to admit I haven’t always been the best at doing this in the past. One of the reasons I applied for executive director was so I could act as a positive figure for all participants of Spring Sing instead of wishing a loss for my opposition. I have to remind myself, above anyone else, that, “It’s not that serious. It’s just Spring Sing.”

And what an opportunity it really is.

Let us not forget that before Spring Sing is a competition for us, it’s the school’s biggest incoming-student visitation. It’s hundreds of first impressions, and in some cases, can be a decision-maker for prospective students. It’s a network of connections with alumni who come back to watch their old clubs. It’s a way to show people what kind of community we have together.

Again, I know none of that would exist if it weren’t for the competitive fuel, but the drive to win must always be outweighed by the drive to have fun, and the division between clubs should go no further than the different sections we sit in during Club Night. I hope a pat on the back and a “good job” from one club member to another will go a long way in curing the division-syndrome.

This year, let’s make Spring Sing everything it’s supposed to be: a lot of laughs, new friends, long lock-ins and good fun.

Freshmen: enjoy your first show ever, and don’t be afraid to go all out.

Sophomores: live it up, it’s your first year in a club show.

Juniors: take in every moment, because it’s going to be over before you realize.

Seniors: this is it, let’s enjoy it one last time.

“It’s not that serious. It’s just Spring Sing.”

It sounds ridiculous to have to repeat it, but it is so important (if nothing else, to just remind myself). This show isn’t made to be taken too personally; it’s to illustrate what a great place this campus is. What better way to create an epitomizer of the larger societal situation we are facing than to start with something simple and show that it can be easily conquered? There will be a winner and a loser, but that’s all really just a distraction from what really matters.

I love this place, and so many people are already doing a phenomenal job at making it great and ensuring it continues as a special community. Hopefully we can all do our part in making it that much better for students to come.

David Paul Kritz is a senior at Oklahoma Christian University and Executive Director of Spring Sing 2017. 

The opinions of guest columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Talon or Oklahoma Christian University. Guest opinions are presented to foster public debate on important topics and comments should be respectful and signed.

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