Some call it the “sketchiest place on earth.” Others contrive creative acronyms to name this room adjacent to a steam exhaust on the lower level of Steele Hall. But to me, despite all its blemishes, this room is simply the “Third Form Day Student Lounge,” more commonly referred to as the DSL.
Having attended Choate as a daily commuter for over 5 weeks, I’ve noticed that the divide between day students and boarding students is not the only social hurdle to overcome. Another sharp distinction exists between two groups of day students: one that devotedly uses the DSL and one that doesn’t.
I have to admit that I am in the first group, because I have no other place to store my belongings! Yes, some day students prefer to store their books and binders in places like the dorms of classmates, claiming that the DSL is a bit too “sketchy”—a word that is reaching an all-purpose status on campus.
The bottom line is that the Third Form Day Student Lounge is more than just a room full of lockers. It is a fundamental part of Choate’s culture, reaching out to affect those who think they have nothing to do with it.
The day students who stay away from the DSL tend to mingle more with boarding students, bringing the community closer together. Likewise, curious boarders sometimes wander into the DSL to catch a glimpse of day student life.
Some would say that the DSL is in need of drastic renovations. But if it were renovated, one of Choate’s most intriguing places would lose its seemingly magical effect. Freshman day students would all flock to the same place, leaving boarders to themselves. And boarders would lose interest in the lives of day students.
In a way, blemishes like the steam exhaust near its entrance and the constant migrations of the clock bring the third-form community closer together. These blemishes are also what makes each year as a freshman unique. The surprise of seeing your face on a birthday poster hanging from the locker, or being reprimanded for jumping on the couches, are moments we will remember when we are older.
While I only speak for the third-form lounge, I’m sure other forms experience the same phenomenon. These areas are not just there, they are embraced for their hidden value. Now that’s not so sketchy, is it?
