Senior Courtyard: Worth The Hype?

TIMBERLANE REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – Being able to walk out the 500 hallway doors and sit down outside during a free period or lunch is something that seniors look forward to during their first three years of school. However, with underclassmen taking over and the limited time throughout the year to use it, it has become a huge debate as to whether the senior courtyard really deserves the hype that it gets. 

The first and last month of school you will most likely find members of the senior class sitting outside doing work or eating lunch. But what about all the other months that we spend in school? As soon as the temperature drops below fifty degrees, the senior courtyard is not allowed to be used.  Seniors now have to spend time in the library, an overflow classroom, or the cafeteria instead of outside. 

Senior Owen Kellerman, who uses the courtyard during his lunch, says that “even though we can not use it all year long the few weeks we do get to use it are worth it and make up for the time spent in the library.” 

However, senior Lexus Petralia who goes outside during her free period says, “Only using it for two months does not outweigh the downside of sitting inside.”

The biggest issue seniors find with the courtyard is that it can not be looked at as a senior privilege if more often than not, underclassmen are out there. Underclassmen fill the tables at lunch that are meant for the senior class and take away the excitement around finally  being able to sit out there. 

When asked about her thoughts on underclassmen being outside, Delaney Condon says, “If we had to wait all four years to finally gain the privilege of sitting outside, the rest of the grades can also wait. It is not a special privilege if underclassmen use it more than we do.” This feeling surrounding the courtyard being strictly seniors only is felt by almost all members of the senior class. 

Maria Cioto claims, “It is called the senior courtyard for a reason, we want a place to be just ours and when they become seniors, they can have that too.”  Seniors see this as a downside when thinking about the courtyard. 

When looking at the courtyard and the experience of sitting out there as a whole, seniors have different opinions. Condon and Kellerman both agreed that even with the deficits, the courtyard is worth the hype and should be kept around. Petralia says that while she will continue to sit out there, it is not as exciting as she hoped it would be. 

Seniors will continue to use the courtyard this fall and will be back sitting outside in the spring because even with the downsides, it is something the whole class has looked forward to since their first day at Timberlane.