A friendly greeting or a hype way to reunite, handshakes are the ultimate addition to any friendship. With countless ways to spice up and personalize your routine, what better way to further your connection with someone? Handshakes date back to the 5th century B.C. in Greece as a symbol of peace, to show that neither party was carrying a weapon. More funky handshakes can not be traced back to a specific origin, however, it has been proven that they are as old as Ancient Rome. In this article, we dive into the halls to see how Academic Magnet students put their own spin on this historic tradition and prove that handshakes have evolved from a symbol of peace into a sure sign of besties. 

Charlie Zaifert and Burton McCulley

I, Charlie, am known for my variety of handshakes with all of my friends. One day at the beach, I realized I had made an iconic routine with all except Burton. So, in the interest of completing the tradition with all my friends, we stood up and got to work.  Creating a long choreography that has since been shortened and streamlined into the final draft above. This has now become my most-used handshake, not saved for any special occasion. Instead, we perform it most times that we are together. On a trip to the University of South Carolina, we played a game where we immediately jumped into the handshake any time we remembered, creating a hype video compilation that we later watched and enjoyed. 

Lindsey Griffin and Sophia Benich

Lindsey and Sophia’s secret shake originated where many handshakes have before: a sports celebration. Sophia described that these basketball stars wanted to formulate a short routine to perform mid-game in celebration of baskets. However, their coach eventually got angry due to the poor sportsmanship associated with “celebrating.” The pair decided to ditch the on-court idea and instead turned the handshake into a pre-game ritual for luck. No longer confined to short choreography, the handshake grew and evolved into the longer version it is today. 

Lindsey has a different story, however. When asked how their shake originated, she divulges only that they “made it last year a spur-of-the-moment creation.” Seems she has forgotten about the complex evolution of their handshake. 

Kabir Zaman and Coltrane Margosian

This handshake had a unique origin: a meme. Kabir began to send Coltrane a snapshot of an iconic handshake from the anime One Piece whenever he agreed with him. Eventually, Kabir edited the image to look more like the two besties, and the custom evolved to be a casual greeting. This tradition is not just virtual, as they have begun to clasp hands in a similar fashion upon seeing each other in the hallway. Funnily, Coltrane notes that neither he nor Kabir have seen the show from which their handshake originated. Perhaps this could be a good activity for the two to deepen their bond. 

“The ‘shake is a true embodiment of the strength of our friendship.” -Coltrane Margosian

Jordan Burrell and Bellemy Kline

This iconic handshake originated at a Drake concert in DC in July. The line was long and winding down the street to get in, and as Bellamy and Jordan waited, they tried to keep themselves hyped by thinking of their favorite Drake songs. The banger “Treacherous Twins” came to mind, and it immediately struck them that this could be the perfect shake to cement their friendship and serve as a memento of this experience. Jordan is the top of the T and Bellamy is its stem, and their pinkies interlock to symbolize the BFF’s relationship. 

“We are treachorous twins so you know we had to make a treachorous handshake.” -Bellemy Kline and Jordan Burrell

Cliffie Manuel and Madeline Moye

Cliffie and Madeline’s handshake was born as a way to spice up their walkout during basketball season. It has since evolved to be performed more casually whenever the multi-grade duo is together and is not limited to basketball walkouts. While it is not yet soccer season, Cliffie anticipates it will become a frequent occurrence as the two dual sport athletes join together again on the girl’s soccer team in the spring for a celebration or a pre-game routine. 

Evie Walldorf and Olivia Smith

Evie and Olivia’s handshake emerged as a result of one of the most high-pressure situations one will ever encounter at Academic Magnet High School: an Honors US History Kahoot. The pair were extremely downtrodden as despite their best efforts, they had gotten every single question wrong. If you know Evie, you know that her competitiveness is no joke, and it was excruciating for her to be losing in this way. Finally, there was one question with content that she and Olivia recognized. In sync, as if they were a single person, they pressed the correct button at the exact same time. Immediately after, they locked eyes and launched into the epic handshake captured above. At that moment, they were so harmonic that they did not need any practice or vocal expression to communicate the handshake to each other. They simply did it. And so, this handshake was born. 

While Magnet students are known for their STEM abilities, their creative talents are showcased in the various routines outlined above. Handshakes are a fun way to cement a friendship with a close friend. While you may feel cringey in public and get some judgy looks (as Charlie and I did in downtown Columbia), just remember that the people around you are likely just jealous that they do not have such epic proof of their best friendships. This is a sign to text your friend and formulate a handshake, or to just wait for a eureka moment like Evie and Oliva had. Whether you are one for handshakes or not, this epic form of celebration, greeting, bonding, and more, is the snazziest way to show off. Altogether, we hope that this article has inspired you to see just how useful and awesome handshakes can be.