By Audrey Pulvermacher

Everyday at Memorial High School, students speed through the parking lot leaving for open campus lunch. Open campus lunch is a great way for students to catch a break, get some food and hang out with friends. At Memorial, we have many fast food options nearby such as, Hyvee, Kwik Trip, Starbucks, Caribou Coffee, Dunkin Donuts, Mcdonalds, Taco Bell, Culvers, and more.

 Personally, my friends and I enjoy off campus lunch a lot! On average, I go out to eat at least once a week. I enjoy getting out and getting some fresh air while enjoying a snack. Many of my friends also enjoy off campus lunch.

“There are a lot of good options. I go off campus for lunch two times per week,” said junior Madi Woodford.

 “I go off campus for lunch everyday. I drive to my house and grab something to eat there,” said junior Ian Bauer.

But not every student is a fan of off campus lunch. Eating off campus lunch can be expensive. Kids without a job may not enjoy off campus lunch as much. When eating off campus you have more options when you are able to drive. Kids without a car or without their license may struggle to walk places in cold weather and don’t have access to places that are further away. 

Personally, I have a job and car so off campus lunch works really well for me. Being that the food is so expensive, I try to limit myself to going out once per week, saving me gas and money. Luckily for the kids who do not have car or job, we have a lot of options to eat in the school as well.

I asked Woodford and Bauer if they feel there are any dangers going off campus for lunch. 

“There are some reckless drivers,” said Woodford. 

Bauer agreed with Woodford, explaining how he has come in contact with many bad drivers during lunch. The dangers in our high school parking lot are heightened because everyone is just learning how to drive. Walking off campus during lunch can also be dangerous being that cars recklessly speed through the parking lot. 

Another concern about off campus lunch is how much time we have during our lunch hour. Kids are often late to their next class because they were going off campus for lunch. Giving kids the freedom to go off campus can be risky but will hopefully teach kids how to manage their time and make smart choices. 

In conclusion, as a Memorial High School student I really enjoy being able to go off campus for lunch. I enjoy being able to catch up with friends and get some fast food. It is nice having the option to leave the school and have a brain break. Being able to leave the school and take a breath of fresh air helps me focus better. It also gives me something to look forward to in my day.

Off campus lunch promotes independence and responsibility as students learn to manage their time and money. Off campus lunch also supports local businesses and restaurants. I strongly suggest leaving campus for lunch at least once a week!