At Highlands High School, having cool shoes is more than just looking good—it affects students’ daily lives and connections.
Many students feel proud when they wear the newest sneakers, like Jordans or Yeezys because it shows their style and makes them stand out. Wearing popular shoes can make some students feel more confident and get more attention from others. Students who don’t focus or care about shoes might not notice how much it affect their lives
“I feel like my shoes really reflect my personality,” Hailey Fritz (9) said.
Beyond just style and confidence, the shoe game at Highlands High School also influences social groups and interactions. Students often bond over their love for sneakers, forming friendships based on shared interests in brands, and new releases. Conversations about the latest drops or rare finds are common, creating a sense of community among shoe lovers.
“Here at Highlands, the shoe community tends to have the same style of shoes which helps with creating conversation among people who you might not know well,” Fritz said.
Some students have become inspired by famous sneaker collectors on TikTok. These influencers have turned their love for shoes into viral content, influencing thousands of people to buy, trade, and collect sneakers. Known for showcasing their rare finds and offering reviews on the latest releases, these TikTok stars have built huge followings by sharing their passion for footwear. They often give sneak peeks of upcoming drops, show off their collections, or provide tips on where to score the best deals.
“I am not into famous sneakerheads but I feel like social media affects a lot of brands of shoes that people wear, especially Nike and Uggs,” Knox Duke (9) said.
Some shoe styles have become more popular than others, such as On Cloud, New Balance, Birkenstocks, and Uggs. As these brands gain popularity on social media platforms, it influences people’s decisions to purchase them.
“I have seen a lot of advertisements for Uggs and new balances on my feed,” Alli Meyers (10) said.
Overall, Highlands has a good variety of shoes. Some people like style over comfort and some prefer comfort. However, the school has some sneakerheads who have a real passion for collecting special or limited-edition sneakers. This creates a blend of casual footwear and a more serious shoe culture, making the Highlands shoe game interesting and diverse for everyone.
