There are many things I miss about the old Wakefield. The thing I miss most is the old Wakefield cafeteria. Even though it had an ever so slightly dingy smell, I had an almost infinite amount of time and space to eat lunch; I didn’t have to hope there was a table available and a short line. When the new building was finished, everyone was excited to see their new space. As they got to see the C wing, most thought the cafeteria looked too small. Maybe because I am a senior, and finally have off campus privileges, the size of the new cafeteria hits home harder for me. I looked forward to going off campus with friends this year. I daydreamed that my peers and I would laugh and leave campus while underclassmen looked on holding their limp, recycled paper lunch trays full of lukewarm cafeteria food. This year, there is less time for lunch, so fewer seniors are taking advantage of their much anticipated off campus privileges. One thing that is the same about the old and new cafeteria is that most people eat outside. Wakefield does have a clean and open courtyard; with the cold weather approaching, people are starting to speculate as to where the displaced courtyard students will find a new eating spot. Luis Gueverra ‘14 feels, “there isn’t enough space to eat because of all the new people at Wakefield.”

Although the freshman class is large, the reason the cafeteria seems small is because many seniors are not leaving campus this year. Most assumed that seniors would go off campus, but with the shortened time allocated for lunch, many seniors have opted to stay at school. Daydreams of freedom are dimmed this year. The cafeteria is an upgrade from the old one, so seniors don’t feel like they should complain. Matthew Henderson ’14, confirmed my thoughts, “The new school looks great, but sometimes it is the little things that make the biggest difference.”