Lunch at Waterford High School is separated into 3 waves, your lunch wave being determined by your third-period class. Because of this, students have little to no input on which lunch wave they’re assigned, but is one better than the other, and would students prefer one over the other?
First lunch is the earliest, and starts at 10:38 AM. This lunch could feel too early to some, but others disagree and say that they like how early it is. Sophomore Arianna Hermoza says, “Since I don’t eat breakfast, I get hungry pretty early, so I’m always excited for lunch.” First lunch might be more fitting for students like Hermoza who don’t eat breakfast in the morning and need to eat earlier in the day to make up for that.
The second lunch wave is in the middle of the third period, and starts at 11:23 AM. Students in this lunch wave have to leave their third-period class halfway through to go to lunch. Arianna Hermoza says that when she had second lunch, “I got to take a break from my third period.” Sophomore Megan Macdougall says that she also likes second lunch because, “It’s in the middle of the day, first lunch is too early and third lunch is too late.”
Third lunch is the latest, and starts at 12:39 PM. Sophomore Josephine Back prefers third lunch because, “During first and second lunch, I’m not hungry yet because it’s still in the morning.” For students like Back, who say that they eat breakfast in the morning, a third lunch may be preferable. This lunch is later in the day and better for people who are less susceptible to getting hungry early in the day. Back also says that “Third lunch is great because we only have one more class after, which for me makes me feel like my day is going by faster.”
In general, it seems like students do have a preference for which lunch wave they’re assigned, and these personal preferences vary. Factors such as whether the student eats breakfast in the morning play a large role in determining some students’ favorite lunch wave. People who do eat breakfast in the morning tend to opt for a third lunch, and people who don’t prefer it first.
The desire to make the school day pass quickly is another major factor influencing lunch assignments. Students who prioritize a fast-moving morning would lean towards an earlier lunch in exchange for a longer afternoon. Junior Joseph Southerland says that he prefers first lunch because, “I can have the day over with.” On the other hand, those who want a shorter afternoon typically opt for the later lunch wave, despite a longer wait. Ultimately, students gravitate toward the lunch wave that makes the day feel the most balanced and manageable.
So, is one lunch wave better than the other? In short, no. One lunch wave cannot be better than the other because it is entirely based on opinions and personal preferences. Despite this, most students could agree that second lunch is their favorite, or they could appreciate it. People enjoy having a break in between classes, and some think that lunch is perfect in the middle of the day. Overall, the second lunch is not better than the first or third, but it seems to be the most favorable among students at WHS.
