At OHS, the bustling energy of the campus is undeniable, especially during lunch. With a diverse student body of 2,720, all drawn from various backgrounds thanks to open enrollment, the cafeteria becomes a whirlwind of activity in just thirty short minutes. Students from all grade levels converge in a limited space, facing long lines that stretch outside, regardless of the sweltering heat or cool air conditioning. As they navigate this crowded environment, many find themselves making quick decisions about where to sit, often without the luxury of choice.
The one opinion shared by all the students interviewed is that their top priority during lunch is managing the stressful activity of getting lunch, whether it’s from the school cafeteria or a packed lunch, and then finding the best place to sit.
“I sit near the bridge under the awning. There’s not a lot of people, but when I do go inside, it gets crowded and becomes overwhelming,” said Mila Glisic, sophomore.
Unfortunately, outdoor spaces often vary in conditions. For instance, the area under the main awnings, situated between the performing arts building and the cafeteria, serves as a popular gathering spot for underclassmen and those without a table inside.
“It’s really chaotic, and we have a little shade, but it doesn’t help with the heat in general,” said Kaila Luzuriaga, junior.
To escape the heat and busy environment, some students skip lunch and spend time with the staff here at OHS, who welcome and open their doors to students.
“I sit in my coach’s room and eat lunch with my teammates, because by the time you get your lunch in the cafeteria, you only have about ten minutes to eat,” said Teriise Lanaster, junior.
As the lunch period comes to an end, it is clear that change is both imminent and necessary to ensure that all students can enjoy their break from class, both inside and outside, with teachers or friends. The unruly behavior of some students and the overcrowded spaces must be better organized.
“I think it’s too cluttered. They could maybe consider making three lunches instead of two, that way it’s around a third of the school going to lunch instead of half,” said Ethan Pacurar, sophomore.
The chaos in the lunchroom is evident, and while freshmen are blamed by upperclassmen for not knowing where to go, their struggle is similar to everyone else’s.
“It’s overwhelming to be new and have to deal with people stealing my seats and cutting me off in line,” said Kyllan Miller, freshman.
