Newark Academy deeply values community. It strives to create relationships between its students, teachers, and faculty. Thus, committees, peer groups, clubs, sports teams, and more are formed to encourage friendships and create connections. This is all well and good, but I still think we are missing a major opportunity for bonding: the salad bar in the cafeteria. Consider, for a moment, the diversity at the salad bar: it attracts health conscious upper-schoolers desperately avoiding carbs, care free upper-schoolers just tryna to get some ketchup for their curly fries, middle schoolers making an astronomical mistake by eating a salad in the first place, probably most teachers, Hindus, Catholics, atheists, and everyone in between. So, everyday, your time at the salad bar most likely overlaps with that of someone you’ve never met and may not have the chance to meet ever again. Think about that. Good. Now stop thinking about that and stay with me. At present, we can all agree that the salad bar is a perfect friend-making station. The next question is simply: how would you everrrr go about starting a conversation with the random person next to or across from you at the bar. As many people over 21 can attest, this is easy with the right attitude. And, when you really start to think about it, you realize that there are so many obvious conversation starters in any given salad bar experience.

Here are a few:

1. You are SIKED to see that there are croutons at the salad bar today. You verbally express your enthusiasm to no one in particular, but as we have previously gone over, there’s someone there to hear it. Not wanting to kill your vibe, your companion doesn’t mention that they have croutons literally everyday. Instead, the two of you high-five, introduce yourselves, exchange numbers, and go out for salads that are prepared for you (treat ‘yo self) one Saturday evening.
2. You are about to complete your salad with some feta cheese (great choice). Unfortunately, the feta is on the other side of the salad bar, the spoon is on the far side of that other side, and you are really just too lazy to walk around. So, you reach your arm across and flex your fingers as hard as you possibly can so that maybe the air you just generated will be strong enough to move the server and you’ll then be able to grab it. You are STRUGGLING. Out of nowhere, someone nearer to the feta or someone next to you but with a longer arm-span helps you out, and moves the spoon right into your hand. This person has just saved you from actually having to make the trek to the other side. This person is a hero. You thank them, you hug them, and you promise to repay their good deed by taking them out for ice cream.

…I’m just going to assume you’ve stopped reading this by now. I will admit I was getting a little preachy. Anyway, all I’m saying is that the salad bar is a friend-making opportunity on par with being in standstill traffic or on line for gas during the gas shortage circa November 2012. Take advantage of it because it’s not like you have anything better to do.