Imagine having to wait in line for a place you’re so eager to get into. Or even waiting for something while you have little to no patience. That’s how the students at West Leyden feel when they have to start scanning for  independent seminar. Independent seminars take place on certain days based on grade level and the location is in the cafeteria where students group up, talk, catch up on class work or even just eat flamas and drink cherry coke surrounded by their closest friends. “I’ve ever only gone to independent seminar one time since im a freshmen but it was just fun to have the free period and sit with all my friends that I don’t have classes with,” says freshman Jocelyn Guzman. While many use this eagle time as an escape from school for a small amount of time, other students take advantage and get work done for the next class or for the following day. Junior Luisa Chavez says with joy on her face, “I love the fact that we have an independent seminar because it just gives me that extra time that I maybe didn’t have the day before to finish assignments”. Independent seminar you would just walk in, find your friends and sit down. That wasn’t until it changed and students had to make a line, pull out their ID and scan in. Mr. Carrero sent out an email on January 20, 2025 to announce the new system, “The second system will be scanning students into the Commons and Cafe during Eagle Time for those who have Independent Seminar on their schedule. Students who do not have an Independent Seminar on their schedule will be flagged and directed to their advisory or other scheduled seminar/program.” Most students were caught skipping and going to seminars on days that they weren’t supposed to. They put this into place to help limit the amount of skipping and essentially better the attendance rate of students. This has improved throughout the time it’s been put in and the lines and time has decreased from how long it would take to get into the commons. Leyden should keep this system in place, it makes it easier for the deans and also encourages good behavior onto the students and minimizes the amount of skipping.