Behind the student handbook and the principal’s announcements lies a far more complex system of regulations: the unwritten rules of high school. These are the social codes that dictate everything from where you sit at lunch to who you can and can’t date. These rules truly keep the peace. For newcomers, these informal norms are the secret key to fitting in. You pick up on them throughout your high school experience. You learn the most important lesson on the first day: the bell doesn’t dismiss you; the teacher does.
When walking in the hallway you must keep a steady flow; don’t stop in the middle of the hall. You are the cause of traffic. If you walk in a group, don’t form a horizontal line that blocks the entire hallway during passing period. You may think it looks cool, but you’re just making everyone else late.
There are even more social rules, like “everyone’s connected.” If you pick on one person and think you can get away with it, you’ll find that network will quickly turn against you. Another key rule of the school: keep public displays of affection out of the hallways. Don’t be “that couple” that forces everyone else to awkwardly look at the floor during passing period. The line between a quick hug and a full-on love session is a delicate one, so save the affection for after the final bell.
We also have proper etiquette, like if someone puts a backpack on a seat, that seat is taken. It’s the universal “do not disturb” sign of the classroom. Even more rules, such as “don’t take someone else’s parking spot, or lunch table,” are things that everyone must follow, no matter the circumstance. After the first week of school, parking spots are unofficially assigned. Don’t be the kid who steals someone else’s spot. Lastly, when a teacher launches into a life story, you encourage them. It’s a bonus lesson in killing class time.
- Don’t change your seat after you’ve chosen one
- Don’t run to class
- Don’t skip the lunch line
- If you are slowly walking, stick to the right or left of the hallway, not the middle
- Don’t stand with your friends in the middle of the hallway; move to the side
- Don’t park in someone else spot
- Don’t steal lunch tables
- Don’t be the PDA hallway couple
These are the unwritten rules of the school.
