LAS VEGAS — At South CTA, lunchtime is supposed to be a chance for students to relax and socialize, but for some, finding an open seat has become a daily struggle.

During lunchtime, finding an open seat has become a challenge for many students because the lunchroom can crowd quickly. With South CTA being a new school with only freshmen and sophomores, the students wonder how upcoming classes will be able to operate during lunch.  With a large number of students trying to eat at the same time and limited seating available, some students have to search for an open spot, share tables, or wait for someone else to leave.  Although some students run to find space outside in the courtyards or inside the main lunchroom, others end up having to stand during lunch or sit on the extra tables provided in the lunchroom. This can make lunch more stressful and leave students with less time to eat, socialize, and relax before their next class. The crowded lunchroom has raised questions about how South CTA can provide enough seating for students during a hectic part of the school day.

The limited space can affect how students feel about their lunch experience, especially when they are trying to find a comfortable spot to sit.

“I feel like it’s too small because of the amount of students we have and feel like it should be bigger just for a lunch area in general.”

Estrada talks about how the lunchroom does not feel large enough for the number of students currently using it. Not only that, but another student, Aubree Fernandez, states, ”I think it’s too small for everybody and I think we should have a longer lunch.” Frenandaz not only talks about the limited space in the lunchroom, but also how the lunchtime is cut short as well.

Besides the lunchroom space, students also have complaints about how much time we have during lunch. Our lunch period is exactly 30 minutes, which seems like a lot of time, but in reality is not enough time for high school students to have lunch. Students who like to eat lunch from the lunch line or buy food from school stores don't have enough time to buy or get what they need. Not only is there not enough space in each food line, but there is not enough time. If a student were to stay in the lunch line waiting for their food for too long. They may only have 10 minutes to eat their food after getting out of line. While students who bring lunch from home may have it easier, there is limited space for them to eat their food. 

As South CTA continues to grow, the lunchroom’s limited seating may become an issue that affects upcoming students. SCTA’s student lunch schedule is an example of what could be changed. Just 15 minutes more could give students a full 45 minutes to find a seat, get lunch, and eat their lunch. This extra time would also give students enough rest time between their classes and even enough time to finish up schoolwork. For now, students are finding different ways to deal with the crowded space, but many believe there should be more room and more time during lunch. With future classes expected to join the school, finding a solution to the seating problem could become very crucial. Until then, students will continue navigating the crowded lunchroom while trying to make the most of their time to eat, relax, and socialize.