The Tuck Shop is a crucial part of everyday life at the Hilltop. “It is one of the better parts of my day.” freshman Miles Leighton said regarding to the Tuck and its community. 

The name “Tuck Shop” comes from the Australian word ‘tucker’ which was a slang term used to refer to a meal. Someone might say to their friend, “I’m really hungry, I can’t wait to get some tucker.” Many schools in the United States have borrowed this term and used it for their snack shops. 

When the Tuck was first established it was a place for snacks and to take a break. There was just a counter and a few tables with a person dressed as a waitress behind the counter to take orders. Since then, the Tuck has become more popular among students and has a wider variety of food options, along with more space for people to come and eat with their friends.

The Tuck is the meeting place for many friend groups in the 9th and 10th grades.  Freshman Jake Nadol said, “it is just the most chill place on campus because everyone is always there, and there’s also food”. Many Upper Schoolers enjoy going to the tuck both to hang out with friends and to grab a snack. Freshman Ian Chung said that “I love going to the tuck even though I don’t buy anything.” This was a common theme among students. Many go to the tuck for snacks, but more go for social interaction. 

The question of why the Tuck is the meeting place for students instead of a place such as the library is a mystery to many. Freshman Micah Jones said that “The Tuck just has the welcoming feeling to it. And Ain’t no way I’m gonna go to the library! We can’t make any noise and the librarians never let us have more than four at a table. I’ll only go to the library if I have to study.” The thing that makes the Tuck different from any other place is the freedom students have there. There are no rules such as ‘no more than four to a table’ and ‘you need to be quiet to let people who are working work in peace’. Freshman Riyaan Ratliff said that “The freedom we have in there [the Tuck] is like no other place in the school. There is no one constantly watching over us.” This idea of more freedom is appealing to Upper School students because there are no more constraints on how they have to act.