My alarm went off at 6:55 a.m. as usual. The night before, I’d fallen asleep gazing mindlessly at my unfinished chemistry homework until 2 a.m.. As I rushed to get my shoes on and brush my teeth, I had no time to eat breakfast or prepare my lunch for the day. I had to sprint out of my house to attempt to get to East at 7:20 a.m. to park in the already overcrowded sophomore lot.
Just as I was dreaming of my kid’s quesadilla meal from Chipotle for lunch that I get every weekend, I remembered the school lunch policy. I couldn’t leave to buy food for lunch — my only option was the unappetizing school lunch with greasy pizza and dry hot-cooked meals.
Having to stay in the lunchroom to eat the school’s provided meals should not be the only option for students. All students should be allowed more freedom to leave the school for lunch, and there should be more areas open around the school other than the lunchroom to eat lunch.
After I survived my morning without breakfast, my AP European History teacher dismissed our fourth-hour class just as I clicked submit on my 25-question unit test. I hurried towards the lunchroom, hungry and stressed about my test results.
The “students must stay in the lunchroom for the lunch period” sign blocked off the area towards the bathrooms on the south ramp. There was nowhere to go besides the congested cafeteria.
administrators stand at the exit of the lunch room right in the way of the commons and the ramps to keep students from leaving the lunch room. Admin stopped me as I tried to go down the 2nd floor hallway to fill up my water bottle. This is supposed to be lunch period, not detention.
The minute I made my way through the surplus of people pouring into the lunchroom, it hit me. There’s no money left on my school lunch account.
I couldn’t text my parents to refill my account because they were both in hour-long meetings at work. I took scraps from my friends’ lunches. I was stuck and hungry.
This should not be the reality for any students. No lunch without their account going into debt. Nowhere else to go but the lunchroom.
As I made my way towards my table, I noticed girls were bunched together, attempting to cram four people on one side of the bench. I squeezed in between two of my friends, but there wasn’t even enough arm room for me to reach back and grab my water bottle from my backpack. If the school won’t let me leave for lunch, they should at least make sure I have enough room to drink water.
All students should be allowed to leave the school building for lunch because of the rush and overwhelming atmosphere of the lunchroom.
The next day — after skipping lunch the previous day — I hauled my backpack through the crowd of bustling students trying to get to the lunch line as quickly as possible.
I could smell the reek of pizza grease as I walked toward the left side of the school lunch kitchen. Multiple empty pizza boxes lay scattered. Every slice was gone. And this was just the start of third lunch.
Only one lunch lady was working to serve food — dumplings with fried rice to the remaining line of students. This was the only option for hot-cooked food left.
I opted for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, but I have no idea what people with peanut allergies eat with these limited options. People with gluten or dairy allergies have to choose between eating prison food or packing their lunches every single day.
None of this would be a problem if all students could leave for lunch.
Even if students have a car, a quick walk outside or to their friend’s car would not hurt anyone. And if students can’t afford to buy lunch from outside the school everyday, they would still have the freedom to escape the crowded cafeteria.
There are almost 1,700 students at East. The lunchroom can only fit 533 people. Do the math — that’s 566 students per lunch and far more than the limit. It makes sense that the lunchroom constantly feels overcrowded.
All sophomores and juniors are legally old enough to drive. Sophomores and even some freshmen are allowed to drive themselves home and to school. High school students can make their own decisions and be responsible enough to return to their next class on time.
It affects the student more than the teacher if they don’t return to class on time. A tardy goes on the students’ personal record, not the teachers. A quick two-minute drive down Mission Road to pick up a mobile Chipotle order won’t hurt anyone.
But, if students aren’t allowed to leave school property, they should at least be able to eat somewhere besides the lunchroom, perhaps the band and orchestra hallway or the commons.
The lunchroom policy is excessive. Students know they have a limited amount of time for lunch, and restricting student freedom is pointless.
The lunchroom policy creates an overpopulated lunchroom that’s miserable for students. The cafeteria should not add stress and make the day more overwhelming than it already is for a student. Students should be able to make their own choices. If high schoolers are of age or almost of age to vote, then they should be able to leave the school for a lunch period.