The great thing about school is you have a backpack. My backpack can hold my books, jacket, and gloves. In my hand I can carry my helmet. I wear jeans and tennis shoes as a compromise, knowing that they provide more protection that being naked or wearing shorts.
I would also read people's signatures because they hold some advice too.
"dress for the fall, not the ride" "It's easier to wipe off sweat than blood"
(sorry to whom I stole those quotes from, they were from memory not cut and paste so the actual words may vary.)
Check out
www.ride2die.com, it's another members (again I don't know who) website with some nice pictures of those who chose not to wear gear.