Class rings have been a tradition in high schools across America since 1835, the tradition beginning at the United States Military Academy in West Point.

The tradition was made to celebrate students’ last year of their education, receiving their rings during their senior year. Like many high schools, Pat-Med has taken part in this all-American tradition for years… 

However, when the Class of 2024 hosted their ceremonial class ring breakfast last spring, only seventeen students were in attendance.

Before COVID-19, it was normal for more than half the senior class to purchase their class rings for their last year. With the decreasing number of students participating in this tradition, this leads many of us to wonder: are class rings becoming a thing of the past? 

The tradition of receiving your class ring started as a memento for completing the final year of education before graduation. Receiving a ring for any occasion was something many students looked forward to, for example, you might receive one for earning a championship in your sport.

As for the senior class ring, like many high school movies, it seems like a cliché that is no longer part of contemporary culture. 

After the class ring breakfast, Senior Sophia Ginas showed off her ring to a few friends.

Excited to receive her ring, she explained, “My class ring was designed to highlight my interests and what was important to me during my years in high school. It is even more special to me to have this ring as I get to join my dad and my two older sisters now known as a Pat-Med alum.” 

Ginas’s mother, Sharilyn Ginas exclaimed, “My daughters senior class ring will be a cherished keepsake that she will have as a memento of her time at PMHS.” 

On the flip side, Senior David Reyes, one of the many in the class who did not purchase a ring said, “They looked nice, but way too expensive. I’d probably lose it anyway.”

Senior, Lara Granja also commented that they were “way too expensive.” 

Of course, like many luxuries in life, there are pros and cons to purchasing a class ring: 

PROS: 

• They’re generally made of high-quality material and will last you many years beyond high school. 
• Sticking to tradition, rings are the best way to remember your high school years in a compact and stylish way. 
• There are so many designs, gems, and styles to choose from! You can also customize your ring to best suit your personality and highlight YOU! 

CONS: 

• With high-quality comes high prices. The cheapest you could buy a class ring from our own PMHS catalog ranged from $200-$300. After talking to fellow juniors, the price of the rings was the biggest turn off for many. 
• If you’re not a big jewelry person or don’t wear rings often, this isn’t the most ideal possession. 
• Depending on the design you get, the rings are generally worn short-term and are later replaced with a college ring. 

At the end of the day, popular or not, class rings are here to stay.

However, other alternatives for class rings besides the traditional look of the rings are being interchanged with birthstone rings or simple gem rings. Custom made rings created by small businesses have also grown in popularity as more students look for a more simplistic and minimalist look for their rings.

What do you think? Should class rings continue on for upcoming classes or is a new tradition among us?