Every year, the John Cooper senior class receives the privilege of being able to eat lunch off-campus. Since November, the class of 2019 has had the option to leave Cooper on BPL days and eat lunch wherever they choose. This is an exciting opportunity for seniors to bond and explore all the dining options that The Woodlands has to offer. That being said, not every restaurant is within reach. Many restaurants are a bit too far away to get there and back by the time class starts, and club meetings take priority over eating off-campus.

Still, seniors have figured out the best restaurants to go to. Many enjoy visiting old favorites. Senior Campbell Wolford’s favorite place to eat at is Chick-fil-A; “It’s kind of my go-to place for good food,” he said. According to senior Mitchell Shannon, another popular restaurant is Whataburger. His favorite order? “A number two and a vanilla milkshake,” he said. These restaurants offer quick, delicious-tasting options, making them a popular choice for seniors who need to get back to class on time but still want a quality meal.

Others have used off-campus lunch as an opportunity to try new food. For instance, Jessie Ravestein ‘19 has used off-campus lunch to try out fast food places she’s never been to before. “Going to Cane’s for the first time with my friends was definitely an experience,” she said, “and I was able to go back to school on time.”

For other seniors, an important aspect of off-campus lunch is bonding with their friends. Many prefer to carpool rather than drive to their destination individually. When asked about her experience going to eat with friends, senior Amy Sibille stated, “It was nice, because it felt like you were actually going to hang out with your friends.” However, the most important part is often the food: “I just want to eat,” she added.

Off-campus lunch is one of the most popular senior privileges, and many seniors enjoy not only the food but the memories made in the process. Opportunities like this help make graduating seniors’ last year at Cooper an enjoyable experience, even if seniors don’t always go for the healthy options.