Uniform Preferences

The students at Trinity Christian Academy have a wide variety of options when it comes to the everyday uniform. Girls can wear four different kinds of skirts, including plaid skirts, plaid jumpers, navy skirts, and khaki skirts. Boys have four bottom options, including khaki pants, khaki shorts, navy pants, and navy shorts. If you were to walk the halls of TCA, it would quickly become apparent that students have preferences for which uniform items they choose to wear. Some students stick to the required chapel uniform, while others mix and match from the available options.

For the girls, it is very clear that plaid skirts are the preferred choice. Almost 80% of Secondary girls wear only plaid skirts. Only 20% of girls wear a variety of skirts.

When asked, junior Mary Graves is one of the few who wear something other than a plaid skirt. She also wears a jumper, which is rare among high school students, and she says that she was influenced by previous upperclassmen who wore jumpers. Senior Christina Kuschel is one of the many who only wear plaid. She said that she doesn’t wear navy or khaki skirts because she “doesn’t have any.” It is likely that many girls wear only plaid because it is the chapel uniform and it is easier to just own one skirt.

For the boys, the trend is different, as their chapel uniform does not seem to be their preferred choice. Looking around the school, the majority are wearing khaki shorts. When asked, 86% of boys said they only wear khaki shorts when given the choice, even though khaki pants are required for chapel uniform. Additionally, only 13.8% of boys said they wear navy pants or shorts when given the option.

When interviewed, junior Noah Nigliazzo, who is part of that 13.8%, chooses to wear navy and khaki pants on a daily basis. He says this is because he “does not like shorts because it is cold in the school.” Senior Cole Nicely is in the majority and only wears khaki shorts. He says that he also “does not own any navy.”

Mrs. Perales, who has been at TCA for 15 years, says that she “remembers khaki skirts being more popular before COVID-19.” She adds that this could also be due to a “switch in vendors” around the same time. She notes that “the boys have always leaned towards khaki,” which Mrs. Beauchamp suggests could be because “the elementary chapel uniform is navy, and switching to khaki in Secondary might feel like a symbol of growing up.”

This showcase of uniform preferences reveals more than just personal style; it also reflects convenience, comfort, and school culture. Many students choose to wear what they already have rather than purchase new items to fit their style. Comfort plays a role as well, especially in the boys’ choice between pants and shorts. Over time, these decisions have shaped unspoken trends within the student body, with plaid skirts and khaki shorts becoming the unofficial “everyday look” for Trinity students.