Gathered around our flagpole with numerous other students, unified, heads bowed and huddled together, is how Junior Brianna Koves decided to spend her morning.

This morning marked Sep. 25, the day of the national See You at the Pole event, an event where students in more than 60 countries gather around their school’s flagpole to collectively pray for other students, the staff, the community and the overall school itself.

It’s a student-led tradition that has been celebrated ever since 1990 when a group of teenagers from Texas came together one weekend, seeking God and praying for their friends and community. Soon, students all over Texas followed the teenagers’ example. The event quickly made its way from country to country, reaching places, such as Canada, Korea, and even Japan. It was clear that there’d be no end to these student gatherings, resulting in See You at the Pole becoming the international movement of prayer it is today.

“I believe that the school needs prayer, and I believe that God can work in many ways through prayer…Seeing a community of Christians gathering in a school that may not really support Christianity helps build the community, and it makes sure that people don’t feel alone. It also helps just showing love for Jesus, and overall, it provides a life to the school,” Koves said.