By Thomas Keshian

Pine Whispers

Walking in the hallways at Reynolds High School can be a very interesting, life-changing experience. I learned the hard way, as I am sure many others have too, how nasty the hallways can be, especially if you are unprepared or timid. I have learned the “ways of the hallways” in my four years of high school and how to cope with the cruelty.

Now, in my final year, I believe I have been called upon to pass my knowledge – about how to survive and not become dog meat – and beliefs on one of the roughest parts of high school, where no one gets a break and it’s every student for himself or herself.

Something every high school student has to learn sooner or later is how to survive in the hallways. Unfortunately, no one can avoid the hallways because they are the pathways to success. But the hallways also can be very unforgiving.

The best way to describe it is probably the Wild West, the jungle and the rough-and-tumble streets of New York all combined into one. If you are not prepared, it can be very intimidating. Even Chuck Norris is no match for this insane place. Luckily, I have learned the ways and there are a few things that people need to know and I consider it my top priority to help out my fellow students.

First, the way to walk in the hallways is simple: Walk on the right-hand side and try your hardest not to walk shoulder to shoulder with more than three friends.

When walking down the stairs, arrive at your floor, find an opening and go for it. Also, they made two doors for a reason: use the right one.

Do not, under any circumstances, stop in the hallways and talk in groups as it just clogs the pathway and leads to people having to veer from the right-hand side.

And, perhaps the most important rule: Walk at a reasonable pace. Some people actually want to get to class on time and you don’t want to get in the way of seniors and their exemptions, trust me.

Now, I, of all people, know that students don’t necessarily follow these simple, unspoken rules that society and school has put in place, but that doesn’t mean YOU should break them.

Some people, who I will call rebels, will yell, sometimes curse at you for walking properly, even though they’re the ones at fault. But do not be scared, because you are doing the right thing and walking correctly.

The worst-case scenario is if someone who is bothered by poor hallway etiquette actually “puts their money where their mouth is” and gets hit. Then that person gets in trouble and you have a cool story to tell.

I have learned that either being quiet or politely correcting them is usually the best conflict-free way to go about in the hallways after a tirade. Resorting to their method is how fights happen – which is against school rules, remember. Another way to avoid the matter is to help each other and remind others how to do something they should already know how to do.

Nothing will be perfect wherever you walk in life, but I believe wholeheartedly that the lessons learned today in the hallways will help you become a fully functioning member of society. If everyone followed the simple directions I have described, the hallways would be a beautiful and thriving place and there might never be another disaster.

I hope you have learned more about how we can make the hallways a better place. But for now, I wish you happy hallways and safe travels.