Heavy is the head that wears a much larger, terry cloth head. And I was told that it can get pretty humid, too.

Working as EvCC’s college mascot, the Trojan, is one of several publicity jobs filled by actively enrolled students each year, involving its own unusual challenges and a great deal of responsibility.

The Trojan faces the impressive undertaking of being one of the most visible and involved students on campus while remaining completely anonymous. They communicate only through nonverbal hand gestures and expressive body language in order to keep their voice concealed.

Christine Vasquez, who is in charge of hiring students to embody the Trojan, said the mascot has a “handler who does an amazing job translating their nonverbal cues into words.” Interacting with the Trojan and their handler, Finch Germaine, revealed some of the challenges and joys that come with occupying this intriguing position.

This partnership is relatively new, beginning only at the start of this academic school year. The pair attend games, events and community gatherings together. They also enjoy making surprise appearances around campus. Germaine said that the most important hand gestures for them have had practical purposes, such as signaling to take breaks and get time checks.

When asking the Trojan how they would start a typical day, they balled their fists in front of their eyes and then abruptly sprung open their hands to reveal their palms. Germaine nodded and verbalized the movement, “You wake up,” he said. The Trojan then lowered an arm, pretending to hold something, and mimicked brushing their teeth. The Trojan then stood, with a large sweeping movement of their hands going over their suit, to convey getting dressed.

Germaine makes a lot of eye contact and keeps their focus on the Trojan’s gestures to decipher what they are saying. The act is similar to a game of charades between experienced players, with some motions having more obvious or reliable meanings than others.

Germaine said that sometimes nobody knowing the Trojan’s true identity presents funny moments internally for the Trojan. “One time we had out a big inflatable bat and the Trojan let a couple people whack them lightly with the bat … the Trojan ended up having a class with that person in a separate quarter — and they didn’t even know!” he said.

Germaine and the Trojan got to know each other better through official mascot training with Jerome Bartlett, also called the “mascot guru.” Bartlett taught the mascot how to walk, dance and show personality through movement. An anonymous interview with the mascot over email allowed them to share their experiences in their own words.

The Trojan remembered that “at one point in training, (Jerome) got up and started acting out one of the bits he likes to do as a mascot, where he was pretending to try and take some food from a crowd member,” they said.

“Even without the costume, he made us laugh with his movements, expressions, and comedic timing. I think even without the expressions or a voice, the Trojan can convey a lot of emotion and humor, even if they have to think outside the box.”

The most helpful takeaways from Bartlett came down to “how to clean and maintain the costume properly.”

“We want the Trojan to last as long as possible … It’s definitely more comfortable to perform in a clean and dry costume. He also stressed how important it is to take breaks and stay hydrated,” the Trojan said.

If you’re looking to catch the Trojan in action, your best bet is to spend some time on campus and keep track of community events. The Trojan recently attended the Wild West Spring Fest that happened on Index Lawn on May 21.

During this event, the Trojan made their way across the lawn multiple times and interacted with students and community members. In the span of 15 minutes, the Trojan posed for pictures, danced with attendees, participated in games such as hobby-horsing and continuously made students smile. The Trojan took their time to engage with many people and create genuine moments of connection with each one.

“I feel like I’m playing a character, but one that’s very influenced by my own personality and humor. The enthusiasm of others rubs off on me, and that makes it easier to stay hyped and spread that energy. It’s important to keep moving as the Trojan, because a dull moment can bring you back to sweaty reality,” the Trojan said.

When asked if communicating exclusively through body language has influenced their mannerisms outside of the Trojan costume, the anonymous mascot said, “Even before I started as the Trojan, I had more animated body movements. I think it’s important to bring energy to a room and a job, even ones that aren’t as performance-centered as a mascot.”

Mascot duties can take up to 50 hours a month and requires the Trojan to run a tight schedule. “Being the Trojan is interesting, because it makes you examine your priorities and exercise time management. One of the Trojan’s largest roles at EvCC is to engage with students, which means suiting up while everyone else is on campus studying,” the Trojan said. “Student LIFE has always put an emphasis on schoolwork over work, which I’m thankful for.”

The Trojan offered a message of encouragement for students who may be struggling with the pressures of being in college. “College can be a huge responsibility, academically, and financially. It’s easy to want to quit or not try your best, because often, nobody is forcing you to take on that extra responsibility. In those times, it’s important to remember what makes you excited to be here, whether it’s for your future career, a passion for your major, or fun events shared with your classmates.” And of course, “Go Trojans!!!”

As the school year comes to an end for many students, summer is on the near horizon and people wonder what will happen in the quarters to come. There are some questions yet to be answered and some that must remain that way. Perhaps one of these mysteries is whether or not you know the Trojan — or rather, the student beneath — and if you may have shared a valuable moment with them or impacted them without realizing.

Each time the Trojan suits up, they are setting out to make someone’s day brighter. The Trojan’s mentality represents how one’s mindset really matters; how simply the way you carry yourself and the positive energy you bring to your surroundings can dramatically uplift those around you. And how essential it is in the times you may feel discouraged to return to your aspirations or friendships for needed rejuvenation.