A month into school, patience is already tested in the school hallways. Just like ordinary traffic on the roads, the hallways have a similar type of tension. This tension is caused by none other than fellow classmates, students seem to be impatient with one another because of student-jams.

In between classes, the passing time is typically 5 minutes. In some lucky cases, students are fortunate enough to be right next door to their next class. However, some unlucky students have to venture across the school to get to their next class. Unfortunate students may not even risk a single trip to the bathroom or the drinking fountain. No matter what, students have probably experienced the frustration of crowded hallways.

According to Minneapolis Public Schools, Roosevelt has an enrollment of 1,240 students. This data is from October 1st, 2024. For the school year now, it can be considered that this number is more or less. Nonetheless, with so many people moving through the same hallways every day it’s easy to see how space becomes limited. It can also be seen as to why traffic can build so easily. The large student body can make a short walk between periods feel hectic, especially when groups stop or block the flow of movement.

Junior Lily Tan at Roosevelt describes the hallways during passing periods as chaotic. According to Lily, people walking in the hallways should be similar to roads. For example, on the roads all cars travel on the right side of the road. She believes that students should follow the flow of traffic on the right side of the hallways, just like on the roads. That way students become more familiar with the moving in an organized and consistent direction

Lily suggests “sectioning” off the building by the same types of subjects might help traffic flow. In Roosevelt, most classes that teach similar or the same subjects are in range of each other. However, some of those similar-subject classes aren’t exactly in range of each other. 

Still, the matter remains, when students hold up the halls by not moving or walking, it affects people’s patience. Frustration grows, tension grows, it’s a small problem that reflects how people can sometimes forget to be aware of those around them. The issues reside in respect, awareness and sharing the space with others.

At the end of the day, hallway traffic at Roosevelt is just a reminder that the way people move, think and act can either help or hinder the flow of our community. Even in crowded hallways, a little consideration can go a long way.