Studying is an important part of the education process, with the average high schooler spending 17.5 hours each week on it alone. With students investing so much time into studying, it is important for each student to find the optimal environment to make them feel comfortable. WHS offers a wide range of locations, all of them having something for every student.
The WHS library is what many would consider the best studying location, having a large open space with enough emphasis on quiet to make focusing easy.
“I’d say the library or the quiet room [is my favorite study location],” junior Gracyn Summersgill said. “I find it easier to focus than in the cafeteria, and I’d say it’s generally quieter.
Students also say that the library has a more laid back vibe to it, which makes it a more comfortable place to study.
“If I had a choice, I’d definitely pick the library because it’s really calming,” freshman Kevin Han said. “I just think the atmosphere is really nice.”
The library is also home to the quiet room, a room off the main space dedicated to being a silent chill zone for anyone who needs some peace.
“The quiet room in the library is an excellent spot for students to go to focus, to decompress a bit after school, and to do their work unbothered by the noises that typically accompany students in the library,” freshman Gwen Jackson said.
The library as a whole offers a range of study environments, intentionally designed by the librarians to meet an array of student needs.
“We have the quiet room, so if you really want quiet you can use that,” Alida Hanson said. “A lot of times when it’s too loud [in the main library], you can go into the co-lab. We also have my office; I’m never in my office so students can use that for video calls and stuff like that.”
While the library is popular among students, the science wing is also a popular choice, and some students believe it might even have an edge over the library due to its conveniences and location.
“The chairs are more comfortable, they have chargers for your computer, and it’s next to the bathroom, so you have all of the amenities right there,” junior Samuel Leonardo said.
Because of its limited space, the science wing often also has fewer people than other popular studying areas, minimizing distractions.
“I’m a fan of the sofa place – the science wing – because it’s usually empty and open,” freshman Timothy Wu said. “From my experience, you can’t really do anything in the cafeteria because there are too many people.”
A big issue with the cafeteria is that it’s mainly a social zone, which means that the people who actually want to get work done have a harder time studying there.
“The cafeteria is the worst place to study,” sophomore Mathew Longacre said. “People are normally playing around, so it’s very loud in there and hard to focus.”
This problem has gotten to the point that it has drawn the attention of Mathew Ferguson, WHS’ permanent building substitute who supervises the space.
“I’ve recently realized the noise level is getting a bit high, so that is something I’m keeping in mind in order to ensure it’s a more comfortable learning environment,” Ferguson said. “I would welcome students to share their opinions on study halls with me.”
The unique climate provided by the cafeteria might hinder some students from getting work done, in which case TEC offers an alternative study experience, and can be an option if the library is closed or has too many people already heading there from a study hall. Erin Patterson, WHS learning assistant and TEC coordinator, and other tutors who work in TEC help students with their class work so that they can get a better understanding of the overall material.
“One of the benefits [of studying in TEC] would be tutoring; we can answer questions in the moment while kids are doing their work,” Patterson said. “We also help students with organization, editing papers or essays, study skills, preparing for tests and quizzes, and managing their time.”
TEC is open throughout the school day, so any student who wants to can take the opportunity to advance their learning with a little help.
“Sometimes students have TEC in their schedule in place of a study hall or free, but it is open to anyone, so any student can come here and work if they have a free,” said Patterson. “They can also get a pass from their study hall teacher to come and work in TEC.”
Studying requires time and effort, so picking where to work is important to learning effectively. WHS has a lot of unique areas for students to choose from, each with their pros and cons. Students who want to try a new studying location should think about the wide range of options and try something different.
