A Brief Glimpse of Life at Jackson Dorm

 By Haeon Park

Every morning, Jackson, the top floor of Dalat’s dormitory, greets the new day with silence. Only one or two students are up, and the rest usually decide to take full advantage of the privilege of living on campus by sleeping in. Around 7:45 A.M., however, giggles and laughter fill the dining area as students exchange jokes while helping themselves to breakfast. In the midst of the chaos, some decide to munch on their food quietly, wake up from sleep, or even catch up on work that they could not finish the night before. Then, the dorm returns to its silent state as each student packs their bags and leaves for school.

The silence in Jackson dorm is then retained until it is disrupted again around 3:15 P.M., after the bell that indicates the conclusion of the day’s lessons. A stream of students come rushing into the door with the pleasure of knowing that school is finally over.

Some, worn out from all the heavy learning, drag past the living room area, straight into their beds. Others, still wide awake and quite thrilled from their classes, choose to persist in their studies and finish homework early. Some gather around the kitchen counter, where snacks like fruits, crackers, and sweets are provided. Still others flop on the couches with their phones fixed in front of their eyes, scrolling through the social media, or catching up with the K-drama that they missed the other day.

“I love after school when Caleb turns to me and asks if I want to play Mario Kart. We go to the living room, turn on the Switch, and sit in the bean bags with the controllers. It can get a little competitive sometimes,” commented Yannick Theriault (12).

Every day, at 5:30 P.M., the students walk to the Galley, the school cafeteria, to have dinner. Then, until 7:30 P.M., which marks the start of study hall, students are encouraged to take a break from their screens and spend time together. Many people, during these hours, choose to work out in the weight room or play sports such as basketball, ultimate frisbee, and more. Others walk laps around campus or swing at the playground.

From 7:30 P.M. to 9:00 P.M., the dorm becomes silent again as students strive to complete their school assignments and prepare for the next day of lessons.

“Study hall is a great time where everyone studies together and helps to be a motivation to each other,” said Saidah Ly (11).

Since the school night bedtime is 10:00 P.M. for dorm students, the remaining hour after study hall can get a little crazy sometimes. Many rush out of their rooms with packets of instant noodles in their hands to cook a late-night snack. The kitchen gets crowded as students, having smelled the ramen, all hurry to grab something from the fridge before being sent to their rooms. Then, once again, Jackson becomes the quietest place on earth.