As I stare anxiously at the clock in my math class, waiting for the 11:06 a.m. bell, several things run through my head: Is the American test going to be hard? Will I have enough time to finish? Will I know all the material well enough? Will this test ruin my life?

These are the questions that run through almost every student’s mind across America when there is a test next period, and as the test nears, the anxiety and stress only increase. But there is one more question maybe only Mamaroneck students ask, that is perhaps the most nerve-wracking of all: Will there be enough time to race across school to Palmer and be able to take the test diligently and successfully?

There are usually six minutes in between periods to get from class to class, and if a test is at lunch, teachers will usually wait a few extra minutes for the stragglers to arrive. This is an apt and acceptable time for one to get to his next destination, usually with time to spare.

That is, when no one is in the hallways. But in reality, there are tons and tons of kids every period who meander in the overpass chatting and taking their time, oblivious to those around them that actually have things to do. This causes an excess of congestion by the Palmer gym and all throughout the main overpass area. It is almost impossible to get from one side of the building to the other in the allotted time in this type of “traffic” without pushing and shoving, rudely asserting your way through the throng.

We all have to take tests, but usually not all at the same time. So just because at one given moment you do not have to take a test, you do not have the right to wallow in the halls leisurely. No one has this right: not the biggest senior or the smallest freshman. We all must be aware of others around us who have important things to do and act accordingly to accommodate their hurry.

This does not mean that we all need to run around the halls frantically, but it does mean that we should not just be strolling through the most crowded part of the school during “rush hour” times, enjoying a nice conversation with friends or reading a book (or The Globe). In this school, it is everyone’s responsibility, from the administration down, to take notice of others’ needs and to not walk carelessly and languidly through the overpass, blocking those behind you from getting by. This happens to me at least twice a week, if not more, and I can guarantee it happens to most of you probably the same amount.

This type of congestion, caused by students’ absent-minded nonchalance, only adds to the myriad of stresses we all have to deal with throughout our high school careers. Because of this, we now not only have to worry about whether or not we will pass our exam, be it a reading quiz or an in-class final, but also whether we will get to the class on time, let alone with enough time to finish the exam. If change is to be brought to this school, it must be both grandiose and minor. This is a minor change that, if implemented, will help the lives of all MHS students run a little bit smoother and with a little more ease.

I implore everyone to make this change by walking with a little more briskness through the halls and with a little more generosity for those behind you who may be in a hurry. For some of you, this may even mean postponing your conversations until you reach your destination. But think of it this way: One day you might be the one in a hurry to go somewhere with not much time to get there. You certainly would not want to be stuck in the hallway traffic we all loathe so much.