Hackley’s campus has so much to offer, from study spaces to areas perfect for gaming and socializing. While many Hackley students often choose to focus on academics while in school, I think having spaces to do all three of these things is crucial – especially ones for socializing. Clearly, the faculty agrees, since Hackley’s motto is, “Enter here to be and find a friend.”
Students need to find places at school to study, socialize, and play games effectively. For example, Akin Common might be a great place to socialize (especially when it’s warm outside), but it probably isn’t ideal for studying or gaming. Every student has individualized study, socializing, and gaming habits.
Many freshmen, such as Luke Schooley, Ella Giorgio, and Carter Ho, prefer to spend all of their time in the library. They find both studying and having fun to be possible in the library.
Sophomore Kubrick Croce disagrees. He finds the library to be inadequate for most parts of school life.
Kubrick described his love for spending time in the bridge (the connecting hallway between the library and the math hallway), saying, “I like studying there because none of the loud, rowdy kids congregate there.”
Kubrick is right. For years, there have been concerns regarding how noisy the library is. Kubrick certainly has a strong opinion about where he spends his time, and his results are unquestionable.
Since committing to spending time on the bridge, Kubrick has become so efficient that he often finishes his homework at school. When he isn’t working, Kubrick loves hanging out with his friends in a more private place than the library. He can also often be found gaming on the bridge. Clearly, this area works for him.
Still, an area that works for Kubrick might not work for someone else. For instance, some students, like sophomore Tian Cheng Wu, prefer not to study at school because they find it difficult to focus.
For that reason, Tian Cheng only looks for places where he can have fun with his friends, whether it be gaming or socializing. He used to spend time in the library, though he quickly found it to be limiting, as he couldn’t group game or sit with groups larger than four. Consequently, he and his friends have moved to spending a lot of their time in empty history classrooms—especially during lunch.
“I love hanging out in empty history classrooms. I get to speak as loudly as I want, game, and enjoy the company of my friends in a more private environment,” Cheng said.
Tian Cheng is right. Empty history classrooms are the ideal place for studying, socializing, and gaming. I find that I do some of my best connecting and learning in them. For this reason, you can often find me spending my free time there, just below the library.
Another quiet space where students can spend time is the Allen Center for Creative Arts and Technology. The conference rooms are perfect for both big and small groups. Senior Dylan Gaviria spends a lot of time in these rooms for this very reason.
“I appreciate the quietness and secluded space,” Dylan said.
Being far away from the library and most classrooms gives Dylan and his friends the privacy they look for in a hangout or study spot. For this reason, you can often find Dylan studying or socializing in the ACCAT with his friends.
Hackley has a massive campus, with tons of great places to hang out. While I will always recommend empty history classrooms, I know there are a wide variety of spaces where students can find their productivity and social spark.
