“I believe that [lucky charms] improve your self-esteem and confidence. Even if they don’t really work, they still help you because it’s something mental not physical. I believe that if you think it helps it should help,” said Oxnard High School junior, Alfonso Esquivel.

According to an article by Association for Psychological Science (APS), How Lucky Charms Really Work, by Wray Herbert, psychologist Lysann Damisch of the University of Koln said, “he activation of superstitious thinking directly prior to a task may boost a person’s confidence in his or her ability to succeed—what’s known as self-efficacy —which in turn boosts expectations and persistence, thus improving performance.”

With this in mind, some OHS students have lucky charms of their own in which they believe bring good luck. OHS junior Jade Lyn Raza said, “I have this turtle, his name is Jeffery. He is like a little tiny turtle, and I use him as a lucky charm…I believe it’s lucky because it has proven itself.”

Likewise, OHS senior Tyler Aronson, who wears a fish hook necklace daily as his lucky charm said, “the meaning behind [the fish hook necklace] is that it brings good luck in travels overseas and in life.”

Furthermore, some students value their lucky charm regardless of its luck for the reason of how they came into its possession. OHS senior Adrian Solorio has a horseshoe as a lucky charm that once belonged to his grandfather. Solorio said, “I could see myself without it, but then again it holds a very special place in my heart, which is why I wouldn’t trade it for anything else.”

However, for some students, having a lucky charm does not necessarily mean they truly believe in them. OHS senior Jonathan Gutierrez who has a two dollar bill as his lucky charm said, “I just believe in doing good things and good things happening back.”

Not to mention, some students do not even believe in lucky charms. OHS senior Isaac Hernandez, who does not have a lucky charm said, “I don’t believe in luck because I make my own luck.”

Whether you believe in lucky charms or not, sometimes they possibly can help you succeed. Like OHS junior Devon Escoto said, “It helps to have something to believe in and something to put your hopes in, whether is true or not.”