This semester, there has been a noticeable pattern of DGN students who have chosen to give up their lunch period in favor of taking additional academic classes, a trend that has teachers and counselors concerned about student well-being.

“Colleges keep getting harder to get into,” junior Olivia Tan said. “I figured adding another AP class would help. I’ve been doing this for three years now anyway.”

For many students, the motivation is rooted in pressure to build stronger college application transcripts. They feel they need to take advantage of every opportunity offered. 

“I’m trying to graduate with honors, so I packed my schedule completely,” senior Kira Chaudhari said. “Lunch felt like wasted time. I eat after school instead.”

But school counselors worry this growing trend is ultimately doing more harm than good to students’ well-being. 

“I believe skipping lunch can affect a student’s health and stress levels when they don’t have a break during the day to breathe or decompress,” school counselor Cyndi Karmik said. “It’s important to have a high-school life balance, especially if there are extracurricular activities in addition to having eight classes during the day.”

While ambition is admirable, students often underestimate how the absence of a midday break can accumulate over weeks and months. Without time to eat, unwind, or regroup, students may unintentionally set themselves up for burnout later in the school year.

“Taking a break to socialize can help students reset their minds and bodies to prepare for the afternoon,” Karmik said. “This break can also relieve stress and potentially raise a student’s spirits.”