As seniors prepare to finish high school, it’s only right to review the one thing consistent through any high school career: the plethora of trends. 

“Most of them are stupid, trends in general are superficial and reliant on self-image,” Skye Fernsler (‘24) said. 

Seniors have witnessed everything in the past four years, from the VSCO Girl to Brainrot. Whether trends are unimportant or remain a large part of one’s life, they were a part of everyone’s high school career. So, here are the trends and pop culture moments Arroyo Grande High School seniors both hate and adore, from 2020 to 2024.

• VSCO Girl: The VSCO girl epitomizes 2020’s beachy, sustainable, earthy aesthetic. Specific items for this trend include scrunchies, pura vida bracelets, and most importantly, the notorious Hydroflask water bottle.  
• Mom jeans: “Mom jeans” were both comfortable and versatile. Whether you were into the look of ripped and weathered jeans, corduroy, or bright colors, anyone could participate in this trend.
• Scrunchies: Scrunchies aren’t new, being extremely popular in the 1980s. However, they became a staple in the beachy, saturated sunset color scheme of 2020, and many have a collection today. 
• White/Checkered Vans: I did not know a single person who did not own a pair of these. White and black checkered vans were almost a dress code for 2020, but if you wanted to get a little extreme with it, you could go for other colored checkers. I had a pair of pink and white ones.
• TikTok: In the early days of 2020, TikTok was still seen as “cringe” by many. However, by mid-2020 and onward, TikTok’s popularity was on the rise. TikTok celebrities of the time included Charlie D’Amelio, Addison Rae, and Chase “Lil Huddy” Hudson. Celebrity figures on the app spearheaded the dance movement with dances such as the popular renegade, which some seniors could probably perform today.
• Charlie D’Amelio/The Hype House: These were the defining people of the entire app during TikTok’s peak in 2020. Members of the hype house lived together, filming videos and making media content primarily for TikTok. The hype house doesn’t exist anymore, but their names are still known to those who had TikTok in 2020.

• Alternative TikTok: This “trend” incorporated darker aesthetics, moody lighting, and obscure trends like small plastic babies, which deserve their own description. Those on “straight TikTok”, or the opposite of alternative TikTok were often considered “basic,” and ignorant of up-and-coming alternative trends.
• Small plastic babies: This is hands down the weirdest trend/pop culture moment in my opinion. Whatever possessed young adults to purchase large amounts of small plastic babies and put them everywhere was truly strange. 
• That Vegan Teacher: Whether this account was satire or not, you have to admit that “That Vegan Teacher” was a cultural icon. The teacher, who also went by “Miss Kadie,” was known for advocating for veganism through somewhat controversial songs depicting what happened to animals being turned into food and heavily shaming meat eaters. Whether or not her activism was in good faith, her account was a source of entertainment for many in the later portion of COVID-19.
• #FreeBritney: #FreeBritney heavily trended on the internet in 2021 and led to protests supporting the pop star, who faced legal issues that became the headline of entertainment news. Additionally, the documentary highlighting her struggles gained a lot of traction. Britney Spears became a common conversation starter for adults and teens alike, in a way connecting generations in a time when we felt disconnected from the world.
• “Sheeesh”: A trending sound/meme that appeared in the Spring of 2021. I haven’t heard the sound recently or even in the past two years, but it was rampant in the earlier days of high school. At its core, the sound is used to indicate surprise or awe, but quickly became an annoying addition to every sentence at the time it was trending in 2021.

• Pete Davidson: Pete Davidson, a previously lesser-known member of the SNL cast member rapidly gained popularity in 2022. Though seemingly average, the celebrity figure appears to attract women everywhere, including icon Kim Kardashian. How this man managed to gain popularity with women is a mystery, but the Pete Davidson phenomenon is one we all witnessed in 2022.
• Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars: This is a moment that deserves recognition due to the pure shock we all experienced. After Chris Rock made a joke about Smith’s wife Jada, Smith walked up to Rock, slapped him, and then cussed him out. Yet another entertaining moment in the film industry for 2022.
• Ted Lasso: Ted Lasso is “a great and amazing show that everyone needs to watch,” according to a fellow reporter for the Eagle Times, Adrienne Pina (’24). The show revolves around a soccer team in the UK but is largely about the connections between characters and how they are successful physically and emotionally due to a coach who believes in them. As the world recovered from the isolating social impacts of COVID-19, a feel-good show about connection and found family was bound to take off. Although I never officially finished the show, it was still a highlight of 2022. 
• The Y2K Resurgence: 2022 saw a resurgence of low-rise jeans, tank tops, and dainty clips. The reselling fashion app “Depop” featured 2000s-themed clothing pieces, and the tag “Y2K” was extremely popular. 2000s media such as Gossip Girl, Gilmore Girls, and Mean Girl gained popularity, and pretty much any show with the word “girl” in the title seemed to be trending.
• Paul Flores is found guilty in the Kristin Smart case: This was a groundbreaking moment for every San Luis Obispo local. After 26 years, Paul Flores was found guilty of murdering the former Cal Poly student, and with the offender being a member of the local community, the event naturally became common knowledge. 

• Thrifting: 2023 was a big year for thrifting. Overall, turning towards more sustainable fashion became commonplace, and led to an uptick in thrifting. Thrift stores, antique stores, and Goodwill were suitable places to visit for an afternoon out with friends. So much so that I wrote “Old items, new trends” in December of 2022.
• Barbie: After being released in the Summer of 2023, the Barbie movie starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling packed movie theatres nationwide. Covering vulnerable themes such as girlhood, becoming a woman, and finding one’s sense of purpose, the movie made a lasting impression in 2023.
• Sage green: This is the first year were mentioning a color as a trend. However, it’s worth a mention because the color’s popularity skyrocketed in 2023. From nail polish to matcha drinks, the color became a staple aligned with the “that girl aesthetic” that emphasized health and wellness.
• The “that girl”/“it girl”/“clean girl” aesthetic: The “that girl” trend deserves its own description. This trend promoted a “perfect” lifestyle, filled with wellness routines, yoga, and planning. It even gained the attention of Eagle Times reporter Pema Secrest (’25), who wrote “The toxicity of ‘That Girl‘ and how she F&%&@d everyone up“ in March of 2023.

• Brainrot: I think this is the saddest trend of this generation. It’s brought words such as “skibidi toilet”, “rizz”, and “fantum tax” into regular conversation. Those who regularly use the vocabulary are considered to be infected with “brainrot,” and are chronically online. 
• The AI upsurge: 2024 saw a huge increase in the use of AI for schoolwork, art, and in social media apps such as Snapchat. The topic is a source of controversy for both adults and high school students alike, as it impacts education and the concept of cheating.
• Balletcore: Light pink, bows, ballet flat shoes, and soft colors remain a trend. Similar to the “that girl” trend, this trend includes lifestyle and fashion, promoting a certain aesthetic.

Overall, the trends we witnessed throughout high school were sometimes fashionable, and often ridiculous. However, silly trends and pop culture moments contributed to a memorable childhood, painting a vivid picture of how we grew up, and I wouldn’t change any of it.