As the bell rings at the end of a school day, students flood out of their classrooms, talking and laughing. For those looking to socialize with friends, there are a variety of places to relax after school, including parts of the school itself, Saratoga downtown and the Westgate Mall.

With the start of the basketball preseason, the school’s gym has been opened to allow players to improve skills like shooting, dribbling and footwork before games begin.

Among these is sophomore Steven Ning, a guard on JV. Ning has found socializing is an important way to relax from academic stress. “Sometimes, after open gyms, I’ll go with friends to Chipotle or Jamba Juice,” Ning said. “Other days, we’ll go to Courtside in Los Gatos to play even more basketball.” 

Another popular place to stay on campus is the Student Center, where students are encouraged to work collaboratively after school. Sophomore Saatvik Komareddi is another student athlete who values socializing and de-stressing after school.

“On Red Days, because there is no open gym, I go to the student center to do homework and chat with friends,” Komareddi said.

For many upperclassmen, spots like Saratoga downtown and Westgate Mall are frequent hangouts due to their proximity. Added JV volleyball player Eric Norris: “My friends and I usually stay somewhat around school. A lot of the time we go to one of our houses to watch a movie or sit around a bonfire. Other times we go downtown to chill. Going too far isn’t my favorite, as gas prices are high these days.”

Despite the school’s academic pressure, Norris believes hanging out with friends is necessary, as it helps with the amount of workload and commitment each and every one has in school.

“Hanging out after school definitely takes the edge off of school. It’s great to socialize with a tight group of friends, because the experience just makes life more interesting. A lot less hanging out will occur after volleyball season starts” Norris said.