Halloween: What is BIFU Dressing Up As?

As the crisp October air settles in and pumpkin spice lattes make their seasonal debut, BIFU students are getting ready for one of the most creative nights of the year. Halloween is almost here, and (some) BASIS Independent Fremont Upper School students have begun to plan their costumes weeks in advance. To get a sense of the BIFU Halloween spirit, The Yellow Pages conducted a schoolwide survey, asking a sample of students about their costume plans.

The survey revealed a wide variety of approaches to Halloween costumes. Some students are taking inspiration from past years, reusing old costumes but adding fresh elements to make them feel new.

“I might wear last year’s costume,” said Cynthia Lu (7). “I was a shark, a very fluffy shark.”

Some are planning to combine store-bought and homemade elements.

“[I will] probably [buy] some kind of anime costume,” said Pranesh Saran (12). “My friend… made a pair of cat ears… I might wear that for fun.”

Effort and budget vary widely among students. Some said they plan to handmake every detail of their costumes. Others take a more resourceful approach, reusing old items or a combination of everyday clothes to create a look that is just as effective but much simpler to put together. Some students even mix both approaches, adding a few handmade touches to a store-bought outfit to make it unique.

“My friends and I want to do the Powerpuff Girls,” said Harini Narayanan (12). “I want to mostly homemake it… I’m going to buy a blue skirt off Amazon and probably wear one of my blue tank tops.”

What stood out most is how Halloween brings out the creativity of the student body. Costumes aren't just about looking spooky; they are also an opportunity for students to showcase humor and personal style. From pop culture references to memes, the BIFU Halloween scene is a showcase of imagination and creativity. The celebration serves as a rare chance for students to relax and have fun amid a busy school schedule. For many students, Halloween is just as much about costumes as it is about trick-or-treating, reflecting the vibrant spirit of the BIFU community.

“Costumes are the best part of Halloween,” said Tia Ghoshal (11). “If costumes were not a part of Halloween, it would not be worth celebrating.”