The alarm sounds, clothing goes on, and breakfast gets eaten. By 6:15, the hallways begin to fill with those who arrive early to school.

“I don’t choose to come early to school, my friend brings me, but I don’t mind,” junior Katie Arlt said. “I would choose to continue to come early on my own.”

Arlt, who arrives at 6:15 a.m., plays on her phone or works on homework.

“It kind of just helps out with my school work, especially when I have a quiz or test and I’ll have extra time to study, maybe ask friends for help,” Arlt said.

Highway 94 traffic starts as early as 6:30 a.m. at the intersection of D and 94, and backs all the way up to 94 and Research Park Drive and on the bridge over Interstate 64 as soon as 6:40 a.m.

“Everyone complains about it and no one does anything about it,” she said.

“I come early because of the traffic,” senior Matthew Kieweit said. “Don’t get stuck with idiots merging onto D.”

Kieweit arrives at 6:20 a.m. and feels coming later is stressful and a sign of a bad day to come.

Sophomore Simon Travis arrives with a friend to school at 6:30 a.m.

“I choose to come early it’s much faster than the bus. My friends take me and I value my friends and their friendship because of it,” Travis said.

Story by: Mason Beck (journalism student)

“I recommend to everyone else so they get good parking and don’t stress over homework,” senior Michael Ederle said.