By Lily Milholm, Staff writer
Hell is a place on earth. It’s known as passing period at C.K. McClatchy.
Everyone talks about freshman being the most obviously inexperienced, but that exact inexperience is mirrored in sophomores, juniors and seniors as well. Age doesn’t matter in the hallways of a high school. One’s consideration of hallway etiquette is the only importance.
There is no system. And the unorganized chaos that takes place in the seven minutes between classes is traumatizing.
Every high schooler walks at their preferred speed with no regard to any of the surrounding people. Fast-walkers spaz their ways down the hall, bumping into lockers and trashcans and other students, never apologizing and constantly scowling. Slow-walkers laugh with their friends, totally oblivious to the masses of people behind them trying not to trip over their heels.
No one applies the rules of the road to the hallways of a high school. People walk in the same direction on both sides of the hall. This lack of lane establishment results in a monstrous mess. Kids spew racial slurs and hypocritically hate, as they are simultaneously doing exactly what everyone else is doing.
Giant groups of friends stop in the middle of the hallway, somehow not understanding that this is not the custom, nor is it in any way logical or considerate of their fellow students. Kids shout at their friends, whether there is six inches or ten feet separation between them.
Couples walk arm-in-arm or hand-in-hand, refusing to adapt to their surroundings. So unwilling to untangle from each other, they force everyone else to navigate their way around. They frolic and laugh without care. They plaster themselves to each other in one prolonged hallway kiss. More blockage is added to the already hectic scene.
Trash cans are knocked over. People are thrown against lockers. Doors swing back on their hinges against students walking in the same direction. Paper is thrown. Food is thrown. Writing utensils are thrown. Feet are trampled. Books are dropped. Feelings are hurt. Assignments are hurriedly finished.
And the worst of all the many extremes is that nobody cares. No one cares that their oblivion causes problems. No one cares that their particular hallway manners put others in bad moods. Everyone exists solely in their own world. All unlikable teenage traits are displayed in the high school hallway. Everyone is selfish, loud, moody, irritating, unhygienic,
There really is no possible solution to the very apparent issue of the lack of hallway etiquette. No one is going to suddenly become aware, and no one is willing to adjust so as to avoid the madness and make high school passing period a better place.