Students often have their own opinions about their school regarding the curriculum, teachers, and even the physicality of the school. When observing students’ viewpoints on their education and what they would change, many of them respond in similar ways: changing the cafeteria, classes, and dress code. Many of these students say that Brebuef is a great place that prioritizes your education, and although this is true, every school has a downside.
Dylan Rogers, class of 2027, says, “ I would change the difficulty of AP world for freshmen. Many freshmen struggle with this difficult class and it discourages them from taking other AP classes– it feels forceful. I understand that AP classes are supposed to be difficult, but it makes students stressed out even over break whether they’re working on assignments or having to worry about future assignments.”
When discussing AP world, both teachers and students recognize how many students struggle with this class. When taking this course, it is evident how much this impacts their day-to-day life, even when they have time off from school.
Taylor Weaver ‘27, states, “If I had to change one thing about Brebeuf, I would change the dress code. I think leggings should be allowed for convo days and I think Converse or certain running shoes should be acceptable. Jeans should also be allowed on convo days. It makes me stressed in the morning because there are not as many options.”
The dress code is also an important part of students’ lives. Although it doesn’t seem like a big deal, it affects how long students take to get ready and can even lead them to be tardy. Although Brebeuf does not have a uniform, there are still dress code restrictions that can make it harder to know what to wear or whether or not it is appropriate.
Matilda Kelly ‘27 says, “I wish there were more serving stations for food in the Cafeteria. It can feel aggravating because other students and I often worry about the allotted time we are given for lunch because of how long it takes to wait in the lunch lines.”
Kathryn Carrel, class of 2027, states, “If I would change one thing about Brebeuf, I would change the temperature, especially on the top floors. It makes it hard to pick an outfit in the morning because I never know whether it’s going to be hot or cold inside. It could be 90 degrees outside but can feel like 60 degrees inside the school. I would also want to change the cafeteria because it feels depressing and dark and it seems as though it is always busy.”
Many other students concur with Matilda and Kathryn’s statement about the cafeteria. Although we are given a large amount of time for lunch, it can feel shorter due to the lack of organization when it comes to the serving stations and the cafeteria lines. It can also feel cold and dark, which makes it difficult for students to not view it as gloomy or depressing.
Alexa Quesada ‘27, says, “I don’t think the fish bowl (the circular area with numerous tables and seating in the library) should be completely silent. They shouldn’t be so lenient on the sound level. I understand that a library is supposed to be quiet, but sometimes I have to ask a friend a question and am forced to be quiet. This area is also where a lot of the library seating is so that doesn’t leave many options if you want to work on an assignment with my classmates or ask a question. If students were allowed to even quietly whisper to one another, it would allow more collaboration with my peers.”
