The teacher’s voice sounds like blurry mumbles. I don’t care about what the teacher is saying anymore. My mind and body now have a new priority. I knew this moment would come, as it does every day at the same exact moment.

My eyes shift toward the bottom right of my computer screen, anxiously waiting. It feels like time itself is mocking me. My knee begins to bounce under the desk as I silently count down the seconds in my head. I can barely hold my excitement as the minute sign finally changes.

12:17 p.m.

It’s finally lunchtime.

The walk to the lunch line is not easy. I am fortunate to have a class right next to the lunch line, but not all of us are as lucky. Some students have to run and even skip the line almost every day. I’ve witnessed it all. It’s chaos. I’ve always wondered: What is the craze about school lunches, and why are students so eager to get to the line on time?

At first, this doesn’t seem like a big deal; after all, it’s only lunch. However, 94 percent of Bellaire students, including me, disagree in a poll out of 110 students on Instagram. We think that the wait in line is pretty long.

I feel like I have to be first in line. I see it as a gift from God, a room only a few steps away from the first-floor academic hall lunchline. Not many people get this opportunity. The thrill of getting in line before everyone else is something I wake up and look forward to every day. Getting in the lunch line early is like the calm before the storm, moments before many other students come rushing, running and even skipping into the line, eager to get that chicken sandwich.

Senior Mingyi Chen, a seasoned lunch-line warrior, has devised a foolproof plan that guarantees him a prime spot in line.

“My room is almost directly next to the staircase and above the lunch line,” Chen said. “The trick is to be right next to the door when the bell rings and immediately head to the stairs, using gravity [to] your advantage to accelerate down the stairs. My class may be lacking due to its vertical distance, but I make up for it in speed. If the course is clear, you can even hop past the last two steps. This will secure a spot of at least 30th in line on most days. Unfortunately, on nacho days, this might be a bit harder to guarantee because of the popularity of nachos.”

Chen’s strategy highlights just how much planning goes into this seemingly ordinary part of the day. Some students calculate distances, memorize menus and even coordinate with friends (holding spots in line) for the best chance at success for getting in line early.

The lunch line is survival of the fittest. One second late could mean an additional couple of minutes standing in line with a grumbling tummy and famished stomach.

The second the lunch bell rings, you need to be ready. Keep that 12:17 p.m. time drilled into your brain.

Sophomore Leo Cheng also shares his approach to securing a top spot.

“I’ve got it all timed out,” Cheng said. “As soon as the bell rings, I grab my backpack and head straight for the shortest route through the crowd. The trick is not to get distracted — don’t talk to anyone, don’t stop for anything. If I do it right, I’m usually one of the first 15 in line.”

The average wait time in the lunch line is around 10 minutes according to a poll held on Instagram. But, when you strategically plan a way to get to the lunchline early, you can chop that time down significantly.

However, while we race to fill our trays, it’s easy to forget the hard work happening behind the scenes. The lunch staff deserves way more recognition for their work. Preparing two meals a day for a school of over 3,100 students isn’t just a job — it’s a superpower. Each day, they prepare meals for hours so that by the time we burst through those doors at 12:17 p.m., everything is ready.

With the holiday season recently ending, it’s a perfect time to reflect on what school lunch truly represents. It’s more than just a midday meal or a competition among students — it’s a moment of community, a break from the chaos and a chance to recharge.

As we pile our trays up high and gather together with friends, we should also remember the effort and people who make it all happen. Thanksgiving wasn’t just about turkey and pie. It’s also about showing gratitude, starting right here in the school lunch line.

So, the next time you’re among the first in line, don’t just celebrate your victory. Take a second to thank the people who made school lunch possible. Thank the lunch staff. Appreciate the food on your tray. Savor the moment. After all, gratitude isn’t just for the holidays. We can practice it every day, every meal, one chicken sandwich at a time.