If you have never been to a before-school study hall, you might expect a pretty chill atmosphere and some time with friends before school, but that could not be further from the truth. Ask anyone who has ever been, the only noise allowed is the constant and repetitive “This is not social hour,” and “This is a silent study hall, NO TALKING.” 

At the beginning of the school year, study hall was exactly what students imagined it would be. People talked, socialized, listened to music, and enjoyed themselves. This time was especially fulfilling considering our significantly shortened recess times this year. But then, straight out of nowhere, the voice of the regime charges in, starts barking orders, and turns what was a relaxing start to our day into a dreaded 40 minute period where no one wants to be. 

These reminders would be fine if they rang out every 15 minutes or even when everyone was getting too loud, but they occur every minute or so, turning what is supposed to be a silent study hall into an endless torment from 7:15 to 7:55. These agonizing reminders just break everyone’s concentration and make it impossible to focus. 

Even though all of these demands are certainly annoying, there is one thing that we are told that makes all of us just a little bit angry. We are told: “This is an early study hall. School starts at 7:55. If you don’t want to be here, tell your parents to drop you off later.” However, most of us are here because of our parent’s schedules, jobs, and lives. Most of us are not here by choice, but by necessity, and these changes make us dread showing up for study hall each morning. 

I am sure that all of the students that show up for early study hall every morning would appreciate it if our morning study hall supervisors would recognize that most of us do not attend because we want to be there. It would be even more fulfilling if they tried to make it a more relaxing space where we can start our day. 

My suggestion to improve Morning Study Hall would be to make the seminar room a quiet space for the few who want a place where they can get work done. Make the rest of the library a place for people who got all their work done the night before to socialize and have a good start to their days, free from constant annoyance.