Unfortunately, I’ve been that girl. You know, the one whose name is being called because her drink is ready, but she is nowhere to be found? Yup, that girl. Just when I thought I got to the Starbucks in Smith at the perfect time because there was barely a line, I get stuck waiting for my drink. Had I not left before it was finished, I would have been late to class. $4.05 out the window with nothing to say for itself, except that drink waited for someone to claim it at 12:20 on a Wednesday afternoon.
They should have listened to Chelsey.
What’s the secret to getting your coffee quickly or not spending 30 minutes in Trabant just to get a burger? Well the answer seems obvious: Walk out of class ten minutes early so you beat everyone to the punch. However, being the dedicated Honors students we are, we would never consider such a thing. So, here are some tips on how to avoid those long lines and make it to class on time.
- Go at an off-peak time. You know everyone is going to be getting lunch between 11:00 and 1:00. If you have a break between classes where you would normally get lunch, pack a snack. That will tide you over until 1:30 or 2:00 when most people have eaten lunch and you can grab something and eat it in the time you would have been standing in line at noon. On the alternative side, most people grab coffee in-between classes. There isn’t a peak time for coffee, everyone is obsessed all of the time. Be strategic about it and leave ten minutes earlier to grab that coffee before heading to your first class.
- Alternate days with your friend. Friends are there for a reason, right? Trade off days waiting in those lines. Someone takes the time to hunt down a table while the other stands in line and gets the food. It’s a win-win situation. Now you’re not stuck with food and nowhere to sit, or vice versa, with a table and no one to watch your stuff. Coffee-wise, I can’t help you. It’s every man for himself.
- Opt for the easy order. Granted, there are those days where you’re just craving a burger from Perkins or a sub from Quiznos, but those lines are always the longest. Try switching it out for a salad. The lines may look long but they move very quickly because there is nothing to cook. You could also choose some of the express meals. Doing this, even just once a week, will have you spending less time in the lines.
- Make friends with the cooks/baristas. If all else fails, make friends. If your best friend is the barista or fry cook, they probably know your order the second they see you. That being said, be consistent. If you want your order up first you can’t be picky. Pick a standard meal and make best friends with whoever’s making it. You won’t ever wait in that line again.
Warning: If you choose option #4, proceed with caution. Once that relationship is established, messing it up could cause your order to “get lost” in the process.
Take it easy.
~Chelsey Rodowicz
