As an underclassman, I know how rough it can be not being able to drive sometimes. Combined with the fact that I don’t get picked up immediately after school, I find myself frequently sitting in the commons doing my homework or nothing at all, similar to many other students here at GJHS. This article is dedicated to my (not so) professional opinion on the best study spots after school.
The Commons of GJHS:
The school commons used to be my go-to spot, mostly because I didn’t want to walk anywhere in winter weather. It’s really easy to go from my last class to one of the tables near the cafeteria, and according to office staff, there’s no official time it closes for students sitting in it. However, if you don’t want to put in the effort of finding a table without any suspicious stains or trash already on it after school, this might not be the right fit for you. I also ended up slightly annoyed and unable to focus one week when loud, bass-heavy music was constantly blasting from the weights room. Overall, the commons gets a 6/10.
The Academic Wings in GJHS:
From my one experience sitting at the Roar & Pour in the first floor academic wing after school, I would say it was really nice, even though the coffee shop itself is closed. The lighting is less headache-inducing than the commons, and the seating is unbelievably more comfortable than the tables. The worst part about the area was the fact I couldn’t receive texts from outside the school building whatsoever. I found out my parents had been waiting outside the school for over 30 minutes before I realized it was time to pack up my stuff. When I walked out of the school I immediately received a swarm of texts asking if I’d been kidnapped. Nevertheless, it was worth it. The academic wings get a 7/10.
Copeka Coffee:
This is my favorite cafe in all of Grand Junction. It has cute vintage decorations, lots of comfortable seating, and great food and drinks, like their chai latte and their sesame bagel, which I got for $13 combined. Copeka is only a 10-minute walk from the school if you take 5th street across North Avenue, at 1012 N 5th St. It closes at 5 p.m. everyday. The only details that bring its rating down are the higher prices (let’s be honest, you’re paying for the vibes) and the fact that the music is loud if you’re sitting near a speaker in the corner. If you’re willing to make the quick walk over there after school, it’s definitely worth it. Copeka Coffee gets a solid 9.5/10.
Central Library:
The Mesa County Libraries Central Library is a brisk 20-25 minute walk from the school if you continue down 5th St past Copeka Coffee, and is a great place to find a quiet table to work at after school. It has a lot of valuable resources, and if you find a good spot by a window to work, the lighting is much better than the fluorescent lights in the basement. The highlights of my middle school career were racing to the balcony to find an open desk, then experiencing true disappointment when all of them were full. Central Library closes at 8 p.m. on most school nights, except for Fridays when it closes at 6 p.m. It also has a Sugar & Ice drink cart that serves tea, coffee, boba, and more. The library gets a decent rating at 8/10.
