A variety of noise surrounds the first week of school–noise from the bustling hallway, noise from the loud parking lot and the mental noise of the upcoming responsibilities everyone has. For sixth grader Laith Choudry, the noise represents the discussions around the new schedules and fresh routines. For senior Jack Wermuth, it’s a mix of the friendly conversations held when reconnecting with peers and navigating the stress of college applications. This noise affects everyone differently, giving each student at Trinity a unique experience. As Trinity siblings at opposite ends of the journey, these two offer a unique perspective on how students grow and change their view on what noise means.
Choudry takes a practical approach, channeling the noise into a focused energy, adjusting to a new schedule and spaces.
“The first thing I do is I ask my teachers questions about the class and how they grade everything,” Choudry said. “It’s mostly to get more info about the class so I know what to do.”
After continuously hearing the same lecture on the syllabus rules and orientation speeches, however, the noise begins to grow monotonous and dull. Choudry can easily find himself in his own head during the first week.
“I zone out because I get bored of hearing the same thing every single day for the first couple days,” Choudry said.
While he tries his best to stay present, others aren’t always mindful of their noise levels. Although this can make focusing challenging, Choudry has found strategies that help him tune out the distractions.
“When I have a noisy class, I usually ask the teacher if I can put my earpods in and then set them on noise cancellation,” Choudry said. “So it’s a little bit easier for me.”
School is not always about silence and focus, Choudry also enjoys the noisy buzz that comes with chatting.
“I like hanging out with the louder people because it’s nice to get to know how their personality is,” Choudry said.
For Wermuth, the first day of school is always exhilarating. He takes his time to soak in all of the familiar sights and sounds of Trinity, letting himself ease back into a routine after summer break. The buzz of conversations between friends, the noise of bells and the feeling of being back to school are enough to inspire a carefree attitude for the day.
“It’s exciting when you get into your advisory, or you’re coming in on the first day, and you can hear a bunch of people talking, especially in the parking lot,” Wermuth said. “Everyone’s pulling in … and you can hear a bunch of the voices, and that’s exciting because you get to see your friends again.’
While the first day can be thrilling, the pressures of college applications can quickly bring down the mood. School provides a distraction to the mental noise, but once it’s over, getting home and unwinding can be hard when supplemental and application deadlines loom.
“When I get home, it can be distracting if I’m relaxing or trying to sleep, especially if I realize something’s coming up for college,” Wermuth said. “That mental noise is hard to sleep through.”
Senior year brings more than just mental noise. The constant chatter, bells and hallway distractions can make focusing difficult. Wermuth, however, has learned how to block out the noise when he needs to.
“I get distracted really easily. I don’t really work against it that much,” Wermuth said. “But if I really need to focus, I’ll go to the library and just go to one of the study rooms.”
While Wermuth knows how to find a quiet space when he needs to focus, he also thrives on being loud and having fun with his friends to help block out the overwhelming noise that comes with being a senior.
“We were able to get through because we have a lot of support networks through our friendships,” Wermuth said.
