Closing my eyes and imagining a peaceful place, I envisioned the Lounge in its entirety. From the folding tables on the left where the gamers come to play to the couch round-table on the right where we complain about school, the Lounge is home to a diversity of students. It's our escape from the constant pressure in life, allowing us to destress surrounded by friends who, too, share that sentiment. In the year and a quarter I've been at Uni, the Lounge has had such a positive impact on me it's become a significant part of my experience here.
Transferring from two traditional public schools, the idea behind the Lounge initially mystified me. Passing by that solitary door, the little peeps I would get further confused me about its purpose. What's with the decor of the place? Why are walls lined with handprints from the floor to the ceiling? Why do I see a mini Christmas tree fashioned with desktop mouses and staplers hanging from the fan? (I still don't have an answer...) Too scared to accidentally break some unspoken law, I spent most of my time sitting in the hallway, watching how everyone else interacted with the Lounge. However, one day, a friend invited me inside, changing my perspective forever.
Walking into the Lounge, I first noticed how unorganized the room was. Lunchboxes and bags rested on the floor, books and laptops left unattended on the tables, and the centerpiece of it all: the Foosball table, laid ominously, struggling to find its place between the room's halves. There were playing cards littered everywhere (floor, Foosball table, AC, you name it) accompanied by who-knows-how-old goldfish. And who could forget the brigade of wheely chairs: seemingly serving no purpose and frequently leading to jams in the little open space there is. Although to some this description may fit the ideal place for a warehouse hideout, to me it was my new home away from home.
Beginning to spend more and more time in the Lounge, I gradually started to appreciate the place for its unique attributes. The couches: a welcome break from the rock-hard, backbreaking chairs I sat through during class. The tables: a nice place to play videogames or work on homework (Although I frequently found myself distracted and not getting anything done). And, of course, the Foosball Table: focusing more on getting that ball into the goal than I did in any class. When I'm in the Lounge, I'm able to do as I please, not constrained to the rules that govern us outside. Whether it's through spending the whole period playing Foosball or just talking with friends, the Lounge is a place for me to relax and let go - a truly peaceful place.
