Every year, there is one day when everyone suddenly becomes extremely interested in their academic schedules—but not necessarily because they are excited to see which classes they got. As soon as schedules are released, screenshots start flying through group chats. “Who do you have for English?” “Wait, we have math together!” “How do you not have any classes with me?” Somehow, one piece of paper can determine whether someone is thrilled about the upcoming school year or already mourning the people they will barely see.
We like to think of our schedules as academic plans, but students experience them as something much more social. Your schedule determines when you have free time, where you will be throughout the day, and, once you walk into your classes, who you will see sitting around you. There is always that moment on the first day when you walk into a classroom and look around, trying to figure out whether you know anyone. Finding a friend can instantly make an unfamiliar class feel more comfortable. On the other hand, realizing you don’t recognize anyone can make that first class feel a little more intimidating. Even something as simple as comparing free periods can become a way of figuring out when you might actually get to see your friends during the day.
Now that the first day is here, our schedules are no longer just something we compare with our friends. They are the routines we will follow for the next few months. Some of us will be excited to see familiar faces in our classes, while others might find themselves surrounded by people they have never talked to before. Either way, our schedules shape much more than where we need to be each period. After all, the classes might bring us to school, but the people we share them with make the school day memorable.
Be First to Comment