At 7:25 a.m., I enter the seemingly never ending line to get to school. It starts all the way back at the Sunoco gas station, nearly  half of a mile away from the school’s entrance. Seniors and parents alike battle to make it to the school on time. Cars cut each other off and angry drivers inch towards the school; road rage in the morning is a shared experience for the West Essex community.

After navigating the treacherous line into the senior parking lot, it is 7:40 a.m., only two minutes until the bell rings. At least 20 seniors sprint into the building and cars, aggresively pull into their parking spaces. At 7:42 a.m., the bell rings, the doors lock and seniors line up single file out the door to receive a late pass. Considering the difficulties of the daily trek to school, the administration is too strict on late policies.  

The solution is simple: If the administration notices a giant chunk of students sprinting into the school at 7:42 a.m., they should realize that perhaps the fault does not lie with the students. Some parents are required to drive their child if they miss the bus or are uncomfortable due to COVID-19. Either way, the morning traffic wraps around the block, and it’s not just seniors clogging the roads. 

 If a more relaxed late policy were implemented, it would seriously reduce the rush. Especially with the threat of losing senior service looming over our heads, seniors cannot risk any more lates than they already have.

However, it is understandable that the administration  is unable to allow the attendance office to excuse lates every day. Receiving a late pass is not the end of the world, but with students bolting to the door every single day, the issue lies further than the student class collectively oversleeping and running late.