Anna Pickette–

Need to take an exam or focus on some work for a big paper coming up? Or perhaps you need to cram for AP exams and have yet to do any studying. Say hello to the answer to all of your problems: the quiet room. 

Little is known about what happens inside the walls of the quiet room or how pro-procrastinators can transform into diligent, motivated students just by sitting inside a glass-walled room in the library. Despite the mystery, this miraculous occurrence happens at RCDS every day and is changing the school in profound ways. 

If you wish to experience the magic, it only takes a few steps for this peaceful paradise to be your home for an hour or two. There is no cost at all, except for the physical exhaustion of fighting your peers, and then you too can inhabit this life-changing space.

There is a downside to the phenomenon. After recent developments, the lust for the quiet room has gone overboard. Students have been cutting class and camping out by the quiet room door. The second that door opens, a mad dash for who can get inside first develops. One unnamed student reported, “a person being dragged out by their hair before the door to the quiet room was slammed in their face.”

 Friendships have been broken over quiet room access, and now it is about more than just simply a life-changing room. It is about pride. This week, there have been only three screaming matches and two windows broken after a student lost an opportunity to study. In fact, students would much rather be in the peaceful room rather than ever talk to their friends again. The craving for isolation is so greatly demonstrated by this one room that it has alarmed the RCDS staff. 

 One student explained that they can “only get work done in the quiet room now.” Another student even went as far to ask their teacher for more homework just so they had an excuse to fight for a timeslot. The RCDS Student Government is even considering making the quiet room a Community Meeting prize. After inhabiting the space just once, you will see why. 

Once inside the quiet room, you will be astounded to realize how soundproof the walls truly are. It does not matter who is screaming outside or even if there is an alarm going off. You will not hear a thing. Especially not a mouse scurrying along the floor. After a recent poll, even students that have been waiting outside the quiet room confirmed that they initially ignored the fire alarm going off because they were certain that someone had pulled it as a distraction just so they could get it all to themselves. The Rye Country Day quiet room has become more desired than the pesto pasta in the salad bar. 

Sitting down in one of the quiet room chairs,  one will find that motivation to complete assignments will skyrocket. A math assignment that should take close to an hour to complete will be done in 15 minutes. Studies have shown that complete silence and isolation increases motivation and abilities drastically. Assignments will be completed in record time with zero distractions. Quiet Room enthusiasts have even gone through unassigned math homework. 

Recently, a group of students has initiated the process of creating a quiet room club. While the quiet room would not be offered up as their meeting space, these enthused students are going to tremendous efforts to try and figure out how to simulate the quiet room so similar spaces can be created. Their meetings consist of brainstorming ways to get funding and more of the community involved in their steadfast goal: complete silence. 

Perhaps most helpful of all though is the fact that you are guaranteed to ace any test that you take inside of the quiet room. Students have confirmed that the quiet room strengthens their memories and ability to take tests! Once you have been introduced to the quiet room, you will be changed into a whole new student and will strive to always work in this ideal workspace.