Ask many graduated seniors what a highlight was for their senior year, and they will give one answer: off-campus lunch. The privilege, designated for seniors only, is a beacon of serendipity for many underclassmen.

For the first time on record, seniors share their favorite places to eat and the thrills that are possible in a 40-minute lunch period.

Nick Methgen says he eats off campus every day, despite a distasteful first experience.

“I decided to go to Pick Up Stix for my first off-campus lunch,” Methgen said. “It was ironic because the school was serving it that day for lunch. I got in my car and called to order ahead of time. A guy picks up and I say ‘hey may I have..’ and he cuts me off.

“‘I’m going to put you on hold,’ he says. So I sit there waiting on the phone until I pull up to Pick Up Stix. I walk in and see a guy behind the counter with a phone in his hand. He’s just sitting there doing nothing. After I explained to him I was the one he had on hold he got up really quickly and said ‘oh sorry let me take care of you.’ Then he disappeared in the back of the kitchen. I sat waiting in the lobby for 10 minutes until I finally left without my food.”

Although Methgen was deprived of food his first day off campus, he decided to try again the next day.

“I went to Burger King which turned out great,” Methgen said. “Everything went smoothly and I was able to bring some of it back to school. It was fun teasing the underclassmen with Burger King. The off-campus lunch is really something they should look forward to.”

Principal Todd Bennett says the program is a good way for seniors to have more freedom as well as showing responsibility.

“Off-campus lunch gives us the chance to show our respect to seniors as well as our confidence in them,” Bennett said. “Off-campus lunch is a privilege so we expect them to show responsibility. We ask parents to sign a permission slip for their senior, even if they are over 18. They are issued off campus passes which tell if they can go with friends or if someone else can drive them. The rule is that they have to be back on campus before their next class resumes.”

Although ASB president Tatiana Fontes usually eats near school, she will risk a farther drive to her favorite place, Chipotle. Fontes says she memorizes the fastest streets get back to class by the alloted time period.

“I like to go to Wendy’s because it’s close by and cheap,” Fontes said. “I also like the occasional Chipotle run even though it’s quite far away. My friends and I know from experience the quickest ways to get there. I can’t be 100% sure if I have broken any driving laws but lets just say it’s usually Da Eun [Sunwoo] who drives.”

Fontes shares advice to underclassmen looking forward to the off-campus privilege.

“I recommend that you don’t eat off every day because it wastes money,” Fontes said. “It’s good to spend time with your younger friends who can’t go off campus. When you do eat off campus try to go with someone you don’t hang around with much. It’s good to hang out of your comfort zone and meet new people.”

For more stories about the senior class, read the Oct. 16 article, Senior float depicts Fantasyland or the Sept. 14 article, Annual retreat bonds senior class.