Almost every freshman anticipates the day they enter high school. They are excited about their new teachers, new knowledge, harder subjects, and, best of all, experiencing off-campus lunch. It’s a first time experience once they reach high school. Back in the day they would carry Power Rangers lunchboxes, or wait in line for cheap cafeteria food. I believe that off-campus lunch offers a whole new experience, a variety of options for lunch, and is part of a transition from childish lunchboxes to experiencing the independence of buying your own lunch and making choices. We make choices everyday, from deciding what to wear to what college to apply to; and though it may seem silly, deciding what to eat for lunch is just as important. Off-campus lunch gives us choices. One is given freedom to decide where to go for lunch and how to get there and back in a timely manner.

Our school is one of the few high schools in San Francisco that allows students the celebrated freedom of an open campus lunch. Other schools are restricted to certain areas, but we are very fortunate to be able to venture off anywhere we want to go. All of our students enjoy running down to Taraval St. and running back up the hill on 24th Avenue, risking being late to 5th period. Most of us depend on off-campus lunch as our only escape from eating risky cafeteria food, beanery food, or being forced to make our own lunch. The possibility of having a closed campus due to the abundant amount of litter and neighbor concerns will only be met by the complaints of the students. A closed campus may very well provoke students to cut class and make a short trip to pick up tapioca from Quickly’s.

The student population at ALHS is already quite vast. Imagine the beanery lines if we were to have a closed campus. Imagine the noise levels in the hallways, the crowded courtyard and library, and the amount of litter. Litter is the main problem here. I really don’t see why students, or anyone in general, are too lazy to find a garbage can to discard their junk. Why throw it out on the streets? Just find the garbage can and you’ll make the residents happy and I’m sure Mother Nature would be really happy too. Why risk your freedom? Just follow this one simple, respectful rule and everything will be okay. Off-campus lunch will just cause a frenzy of students rushing to line-up for food. It will tempt students to cut and pick up lunch somewhere else.

Another problem with a closed campus is that clubs cannot meet during lunch because there will two lunch periods. Half of the student body will be in class, while the other half eats their lunch. Clubs will beforced to hold their meetings after school instead, and this is a problem for many students because they have jobs, sports, homework, and other commitments. Students will have to balance clubs and other activities after school, which would cause more stress. Who would want more stress? Yet another problem is the noise level of the students outside, it will be rather difficult for students in class to concentrate on their work. It is almost impossible to keep the noise levels down while students are on their lunch break.

In conclusion, please be respectful to our neighbors. Please clean up after yourselves, and each and every one of you will still be entitled to your freedom of an off-campus lunch.