At 3:26 p.m., the moon glides towards the sun, painting the sky with temporary darkness. Crowds of students gather in the courtyard wearing cardboard, solar-filtered sunglasses to marvel at this celestial phenomenon. “There were so many students that came together to watch the eclipse outside,” said sophomore Khloe Chong. The solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, brought students to congregate in our courtyard, clustering close together to soak in this moment. “I realized how great our school community is,” Chong said.
This moment encompasses the nature of South students everyday: a community gathering together, collaborating through various activities and events. This unique quality is most prominent in third spaces or distinctive locations that facilitate social interactions in an informal, non-restrictive setting. The most notable of them all, of course, resides in the heart of our school: South’s courtyard.
The courtyard enables students to socialize afterschool: “When it’s nice outside, I find that the courtyard is a good place to destress and talk,” junior Alex Lau said. Oftentimes, our rigorous classes form stressful daily schedules, resulting in little time for socialization. As we attempt to strike a balance between school work and extracurricular activities, we tend to deemphasize the importance of leaving time to simply interact with others. “It can be difficult to hang out with my friends when I’m busy with school- work,” Lau said. “I find that staying afterschool helps me maintain a good balance between academics and having a good social life.”
Our courtyard serves as a bustling after-school Eden to gain the interactions we lack. With tables scattered around and ample space for outdoor activities, the courtyard promotes social gatherings that enable interactions. Common pastimes include casual discussions, innovative table games, or volleyball matches. Sophomore Kyra Capadonno, a frequent player, explained that “playing volleyball outside allows people to hangout and play the sport that they love together.” It also invites nearby students from surrounding groups to participate as well. “The courtyard experience brings the [volleyball] team closer together while still encouraging other people to join in on the fun,” she said.
The Asian Culture Club expressed similar gracious sentiments as they use the courtyard for their practice sessions. The club uses the courtyard to practice their intricate acts for the December and May shows. One might notice students practicing martial arts stunts or the head of a lion from the Lion Dance act peeking through the crowd. “We have our own space to improve our acts,” Lau explained, who is also a Taekwondo performer. “By practicing with my peers, I am able to contribute to my own act while participating amongst a bigger community within South.” Lau’s remarks demonstrate the space’s multipurpose nature and inclusive quality. Junior Meghan Lou explained, “[The courtyard] is like a club but without an assigned teacher. You don’t need to interact directly, but being there makes it feel like you are still included.” Transitioning from a hectic school day to a peaceful area signals a shift within one’s daily flow. “Instead of being inside the halls, there’s open space and fresh air to enjoy the company of others.” When we are constantly inside the school building, we default to using technology for both school work and social interaction. “There’s no ambiance inside school, so you’re most inclined to look at screens,” Lou said. “When you’re outside, you have an opportunity to be around others and admire nature instead of looking at your phone or iPad, an activity you can do anywhere.”
Digital spaces are essentially a type of third space—it facilitates connections on a digitized platform—but its implications fall short compared to traditional communal spaces. While you can access social interactions through social media sites, you are limited to remote, impersonable conversations. Our courtyard, among other social spaces, develops solidarity among students. At South, we spend an abundant amount of time on digital platforms, and we need to include more time in our day for genuine, face-to-face interactions. These places, like our courtyard, benefit students on a personal and community level, providing a space for relaxation whilst facilitating meaningful connections between students.
“Being in the courtyard is such a wholesome experience,” Lau said. “With so many groups of people interacting together, I find that I can relax and enjoy the company of everyone there [the courtyard].”
