For most, Parents’ Weekend was a time of relaxation, sleeping in a real bed and enjoying food that was not prepared by a certain lovable stir-fry chef. However, if your parents, like my own, were unable to come to campus, Parents’ Weekend was nothing but a smack in the face reminding you that, during a weekend meant to reunite families, you were alone. Just because my own parents were unable to come does not mean I resent those whose parents were able; that is far from the case. However, I do find it a bit irritating that our school offered very few opportunities on either Friday or Saturday to occupy students whose parents were not here. Since many students were preoccupied with their parents, those of us whose parents were not here were left to our own devices. I had originally planned to sleep in late and then begin my homework until I realized that breakfast was being held in the Cage, all the way across campus, and was only open until 9:15 a.m. on a Saturday morning. While this may have worked out well for parents who were headed to classes, it worked against the “parent-less” students who wanted to catch up on sleep. While I understand that it is challenging to consider everyone, it would have been better if breakfast had stayed open just 45 minutes longer. In addition, eating my meal alone in the midst of reunited families was upsetting and became awkward when a friend invited me to eat with her and her parents, who wished to meet my own. As if embarrassing meals were not bad enough, there was also not enough homework to keep us “parent-less” kids from getting bored. Though Grasshopper Night was an option—and an enjoyable one—it was crawling with parents videotaping or snapping pictures of their kids. On Saturday, the only available entertainment was the interscholastic games where enthusiastic parents cheered on their athletic children. These events were nice, but I was especially struck by the lack of activities for us “parent-less” kids. I signed in to my dorm this past Saturday night at 9:30 p.m. after having been in the dorm for two hours. I understand that the typical weekend activities wouldn’t have been possible, for most students were preoccupied with their parents. However, a movie could have been shown on both Friday and Saturday in Kemper for those without their parents on campus. Student Activities could have held a small event in Susie’s to provide a nice break from homework. Something, really anything, would have helped us get our minds off of not having our parents on campus. I know the students whose parents didn’t come are in the minority, but we are just as much a part of the Andover community as those whose parents did. We shouldn’t have to spend our Saturday nights doing homework. This is only my first Parents’ Weekend; I hope that in the future my Parents’ Weekends leave me with pleasant experiences, regardless of whether my parents come or not. Skylar-Bree Takyi is a Junior from East Orange, NJ.
