Once the bell rings, students disperse from their classes and join their friends ready to enjoy the hour long lunch period. Across the different grades students spread all the way from the corners of the library out to Akin Common, the location of lunch reveals a lot about the student experience.
For many, lunch isn’t just for eating, it’s a time that you can use to lighten the homework load. Sophomore Kendall Joseph finds that her location is often dictated by her to-do list for the night. “It kind of depends,” Joseph said. “If it’s really nice out, I’ll normally spend it outside and do some work because I like the sun and playing spikeball. But if it’s colder or raining, I’ll probably be in the library getting work done so I don’t have to do it at home.”
While many students enjoy their time in the freshman / sophomore lounges, Joseph avoids them when she needs to focus. “It’s too noisy in the lounge. The library is normal, but you can really get work done in the quiet wing,” she said, adding that her lunch is her only free time when her workload is light.
For others, the midday break is used to enjoy some free time. Junior Charlie Heim prefers the lively atmosphere of the junior hallway, located on the second floor of the science building. “I like these spots because they are really relaxing and a nice break during the day because you’re sitting with your friends,” Heim said. While Charlie occasionally will go to the math lab or meet with teachers, she prioritizes this time period for decompressing from her busy schedule.
According to Heim, the places where students hangout throughout the school are clearly divided, “The juniors definitely take advantage of the junior hallway and seniors for the senior lounge, or”slounge “. These spots are owned by those grades.”
For the Freshman, there isn’t a distinct spot where everyone hangs out. Freshman Karen Adachi said that while many freshman and sophomores hangout in the lunge, some choose the library to get ahead on assignments. “I mostly hangout in the lounge and hangout with friends.” Adachi said. Adachi also talked about sometimes finishing some work in the freshman / sophomore lounge as well. However, like many other students, her location changes with the seasons. Adachi said that if it is nice out, she heads outside. “If it’s warm, I love lying down on Akin Common,” she said.
The social map of the school appears to have clear boundaries. Heim said that different grades definitely own certain parts of the school during this time. “I think the freshman definitely tend to go to their lounge by the freshman hallway, and then the juniors definitely take advantage of the junior hallway and seniors for the ‘slounge,” she said.
Whether students are working through a history paper in the quiet wing of the library or relaxing on the turf of Akin Common, the Hackley lunch hour remains a flexible time for students to use as they like, balancing the need for academic work with the equally important need to simply decompress and hangout with friends.
