You can’t spell POMS without OM!

This year, OM welcomed a new team to the list of afterschool activities students can choose from. Introducing POMS, a dance team that incorporates different styles of dance such as jazz, hip hop, and modern. POMS focuses on technique, as well as sharp and precise movements, as they practice dance routines, offering a unique and different style of performance.

While Howard County has several different POM teams, including at Hammond, River Hill, and Wilde Lake, Oakland Mills has never had a POM team up until this past year. Captained by junior Rylee Finney and supervised by English teacher Mrs. Hall, POMs has many members as well as routines they hope to perform during this school year, namely at basketball games and pep rallies.

Starting your very own team is not easy, with many factors to consider and kinks to work out, but a key to dealing with it all is good leadership, so I sat down with Rylee and Mrs. Hall, and discussed all things POMs. 

Rylee expressed to me how she wanted a team that could allow all members to have fun and be a part of something bigger while offering opportunities for input and opinions. Rylee says this is an aspect that made her want to start a new team rather than just joining another one, saying, “When joining other teams, things are typically already established since it has been up and running for so many years, it doesn’t give you the space and opportunity to be creative and for your opinions to fully be heard because they are so used to the system they already have.” So, as they make decisions on music and dance moves, members can share their perspectives and bring their ideas to the table as they collaborate and listen to one another. 

Although things seem to be smooth sailing now, that was not always the case. Initially, the team went through many setbacks including finding rehearsal space, performance times, and lack of funds. Rylee said when the team was first getting started, there was no organization or structure, and with every inch the team was given, it felt as though they were pushed back another mile. She states, “It was not until Mrs. Hall came that they really felt like a team,” as her arrival brought organization, structure, and a sense of unity to the group. 

Moving forward, POMS hopes to significantly impact our school community. Mrs. Hall says she aims to accomplish a sense of team with a group of students who just like to dance, saying, “You may not be the best dancer in the world, but you just like to dance, and you want to be a part of something that incorporates cheering and spirit for Oakland Mills because it is all about having OM spirit and being able to show it in a way that best fits you.” She also hopes someday soon, they can begin reaching out to elementary and middle schools, giving them a chance to dance, have fun, and experience a positive side of high school. Getting them excited for high school, eliminating the stigma surrounding how stressful or awful it can be, and showing them the good side of high school. 

As a former member of the team, I can attest to saying that Pommies are a welcoming, independent, and talented group of girls. By overcoming challenges, advocating for themselves, and showing up and showing out for every performance they have, they have truly made a mark on our school community. For anyone interested in joining the POM’s team, do not be afraid to reach out to one of the many Pommies or Mrs. Hall herself, who will be more than willing to help you get on the team. Because they believe at the end of the day, they all make each other better and always hold each other accountable. “I think that is a good way to spend your high school years,” says Mrs. Hall, “motivated, together, and held accountable. The POMs team is not just a dance team; it’s a community within our school, and I am excited to witness the positive impact they will continue to have on Oakland Mills High School in the years to come.

Photo credit: Sarah Hall