Gone are the days where people would have to tie leaves and sticks to their feet to avoid harmful objects on the forest floor. The survival aspect of protecting our feet has shifted into more of a fashion necessity. Now, instead of twigs and vines, we use leather, laces, and suede. The result? A flurry of color coordinated outfits that go together from head to toe (literally).

A shoe that dominates the scene at Tunstall is the reliable Air Force 1. Not to be confused with the president’s personal air travel unit, these shoes come in many different colors or designs, the most popular color being all white. The wave of white is due to the shoes being able to be worn with almost any outfit. People must be wary, however. If one is wearing a pair of these, they seem to come with a fifty percent increase in the chance of getting your shoes stepped on. 

Another popular shoe choice is the Air Jordan 1. They can come in high-tops, mid-tops, and low-tops.  I have three or four different pairs of them myself, all being mid and high-tops Another senior, Logan Powell, also has a pair of Jordan 1’s. His are the mid-top college grey color set, which is a light grey and white colorway. “They’re my everyday shoes. I might wear my crocs some days but for the most part, I just wear these. And they’re comfortable.” One cannot have a pair of shoes without paying for them, of course. Powell estimated the price of his shoes to be $270 when he bought them.

Some students take the more comfortable route and wear a pair of crocs or slides. While these are not as firm and athletic as a pair of sneakers, they are easy to slide on and off and very convenient. I find myself being included in this group quite a lot. Just in case you do need to run really fast down the hallways for whatever reason, the crocs are capable of going into sports mode. There is a little band that comes down over your heel and keeps the shoe in place. A plus for these kinds of shoes is that you don’t have to experience the “sole-crushing” moment when somebody scuffs your shoes by stepping on them. You also don’t have to worry about walking weird in order not to crease the new shoes, because any student can identify the “crease-walk.”

Wherever there is a THS student, there will be a pair of shoes (hopefully). The range for unique and individual shoes are unlimited, from a normal sneaker to a veiny, silicone foot shoe. The hallways while switching classes are usually home to a variety of different shoes if one would pay attention. Perhaps by resting your eyes on their feet, you will gain an understanding on your fellow classmates.