While most communities tend to rally around sports, Paint Branch is unique in its ability to build a welcoming and endearing community, even for those not involved in the “athletic-life” of high school. In fact, for the roughly 52 percent of students who will not participate in any school sports during the 2013-2014 school year, have no fear – the Paint Branch community is here to support you.

Despite common high school dramatizations, a lack of athletic involvement doesn’t mean lack of “PB Pride.”

Dion Barnes, a twelfth grader who is a part of the non-athletic life at Paint Branch, defines “PB Pride” as “showing school spirit, wherever possible.” Barnes displays his pride “on certain days, [when he] wears the clothes and dresses up.”

Senior Elkana Habtom, who hasn’t played a sport in her high school career, involves herself in Environmental Club and International Club at Paint Branch. She feels that these two clubs allow her “to bring my background into Paint Branch and share it with others.”

This past fall season, the student athletes who suited up for Paint Branch weren’t without a strong fan base, as masses of students filled the stands at football and soccer games, their cheers loud and proud.

Tenth grader Avinaash Gulati, who belongs to the non-athletic at Paint Branch, says he shows his school pride by “going to all the games [in any sport throughout the school year].”

Habtom shows her “loyalty and respect to [the] Paint Branch students, school, and community by going to the football games, wearing the shirt outside of school and being involved in [her] clubs.”

There is, however, one sport in particular that definitely serves as a uniting force for most Panthers: football.

“I’m proud to be a Panther!” proclaims Zayd Sani, who fits into the non-athletic at Paint Branch. “I’m not involved in any clubs [or sports], but I’m supportive of the football team,” says the eleventh grader, who says this loyalty makes him feel involved in the Paint Branch community.

The greatest thing about Paint Branch is the vast diversity of its community. Although Paint Branch can be identified by its multitude of cultures, clubs, after-school activities, sports, academic resources and sub-groups, Paint Branch is truly the sum of its parts.

The school is not simply divided by those who participate in clubs, those who play a sport, and those who focus solely on academics. There are many students at Paint Branch who not only play sports but participate in clubs, and serve as additional zealous supporters among the crowd.

Twelfth grader extraordinaire Hailey Hackett, who is frequently seen on the morning announcements, not only plans to “try volleyball” this upcoming spring but already actively participates in “Color Guard, Jazz Singers and TV Production.”

Much like other Panthers, Hackett states that “work with all of [her] activities brings [her] closer to the school…it makes the big population more digestible.”

Let it be known that it doesn’t matter what “category” or “clique” students connect with; there is an opening for all and any type of Paint Branch student here at the beloved home of the Panthers. Perhaps senior Kalabe Mulugeta, who ran track during his 9th grade year, but since then joined the non-athletic life, says it best: “Everyone gets along.”