As a senior at Benilde-St. Margaret’s, having the opportunity to escape campus during free hour is a highly coveted and appreciated privilege. The rush of excitement these students experience when getting to depart early or catch an additional hour of sleep in the morning is greatly treasured. Although BSM seniors have traditionally been allotted free hours at the beginning or end of the school day, due to their access to many electives, the 2023-2024 school year has shown an increase in the number of seniors with free hour in the middle of the day. For some, this situation has led to increased productivity and maximization of their time, while others feel their freedom has been limited.
Senior Karsyn Elliott, though also feeling there are benefits to having a free hour in the middle of the day, predominantly feels it limits her senior privilege. If given the choice to select the placement of her Free Hour, she feels it would be most beneficial to have it at the end of the day. “I just don’t like it because I can’t leave at the end of the day…but also it kind of helps me get my work done,” Elliott said.
Although expressing her desire to have a free hour slotted in one of the last periods of the day, Elliott adds that this free time in the day will likely prove to be beneficial as the semester progresses. “As of right now, no [I don’t feel more productive], but probably in the middle of the semester when I have a lot of stuff to get done. I probably will,” Elliott said.
Contrasting Elliott’s preference, senior Elisabeth Malrait enjoys her free hour in the middle of the day, as it allows her to be productive when she desires, while simultaneously providing her the option to leave. “I think I like it in the middle because I can still get stuff done. I feel like at the end of the day, I would just go home and do nothing,” Malrait said.
Admitting her initial disappointment with a free hour in the middle of her schedule, Malrait admits it has proven to be better than she anticipated. “At first, I didn’t think I would like it. But then I started going home during it. And I still get to go home for like an hour, so I actually kind of like it now because it gives me a break during the middle of the day,” Malrait said.
Though BSM seniors express varying opinions on the scheduled placement of their Free Hour, there are benefits and disadvantages to each circumstance. The unique privilege BSM seniors receive to leave the building during their free period is appreciated, regardless of when it is slotted in their day.