We’ve all had that moment. Running on the treadmill, you’re in your zone. Headphones beating bass drops into your ears, energy illuminating from your core, a bead of sweat trickling down your temple, and then you see them. That guy from physics, that girl in your psychology class or even one of your teachers. Regardless, it’s someone you know. Someone who’s seeing your growing pit stains, the red patchiness on your face: clearly, you’re in your prime.
This is thought to be, for many students, a worst nightmare come true.
For Taylor Jacobs ’14, an ordinary workout turned awkward when she encountered a teacher in the cardio section. “It’s just kind of like seeing a fish out of water,” Jacobs said. “When at the gym, I don’t expect to see a teacher, so it puts me out of place.”
There’s a blurred line of what is considered acceptable versus rude when it comes to seeing your schoolmates and teachers in a setting outside of school. It’s often difficult to decipher one from the other; greeting them could be awkward, but, at the same time, not greeting them could be taken the wrong way.
Social Studies teacher Eric Mongirdas agrees with Jacobs, noting that, while he’ll say “hi” to a student at the gym if the opportunity presents itself, he respects students’ privacy and doesn’t go out of his way to greet them because “they probably want their own peace and quiet as well.”
For avid gym members, seeing people they know isn’t a problem. They’re at the gym to work out, so why should they be embarrassed about how they look?
Katie Smith ’14, who’s been a member of The Edge for over two years, isn’t insecure at all during her activities. “It’s convenient if you want to work out with a friend because so many Staples kids are members of The Edge,” Smith said. “It’s fun to see people you know. I’ve found out about great classes to go to from other students.”
Whether it’s the discomfort of recognizing the grunting, sweaty person lifting weights across the room as one of your classmates or seeing a member of the faculty who catches you off guard, skipping the gym to avoid these situations is futile.
