At first glance, the missing mirrors in our high school bathrooms might seem like a small, even trivial detail. After all, what’s the big deal about not having a reflection while washing your hands or fixing your hair? However, for students who are used to the mirror being a quick check-in for their appearance or even a small moment of self-affirmation, this absence hits differently.
Although normal for those used to the campus, the mirrors still remain a point of conversation among students. For many, mirrors are more than a tool for vanity; they provide a moment to compose yourself or regain confidence throughout the day. With this opportunity taken away, some students feel that a crucial part of their daily routine is disrupted.
“It’s so inconvenient,” said BIT junior Savannah Poytan. ”People are in the bathroom all the time and they obviously want to check themself. You don’t want to go to class looking unpresentable.”
In attempts to navigate this, students rely on finding their reflection wherever they can, whether that be a phone screen or pocket mirror. “That’s why I bring my own mirror,” said BITA senior Honey Santiago. In fact, she brings three mirrors to school. “What if you have to check on your hair, makeup, or clothes?”
AMPA senior Alissa Mendoza agrees. “I’ve adapted to not being able to have mirrors,” she said. “I use my phone, I use other mirrors I keep on me.” However, she still wishes for the convenience of having easy access to mirrors in the bathroom. “Plus, it can diminish a girl’s confidence not being able to maintain her appearance.”
With this bathroom necessity gone for multiple years, speculation has arisen concerning why this is the case. According to principal Baxter, the mirrors were already gone when she became principal in 2021. “I’m not opposed to having mirrors in the restroom, they just weren’t here when I got here,” she explained. “I’d like to take a survey and hear from students.”
Hamilton’s plant manager Jose Morales credits the lack of mirrors to student behavior. “Mainly it’s vandalism,” he said. “Second, In the girl’s restroom, they tend to spend more than enough time there in the mirrors.” Despite this, he agrees that the mirrors are like “a missing piece in the restroom.” However, since mirrors are not a necessity, the school has chosen not to allocate funding for them.
The mirrors won’t make a return until long after current students graduate. While the mirrors won’t be funded by the school’s budget, they will be added when construction reaches the buildings, according to Mr. Morales. “The school wouldn’t pay for it, so we’re waiting for construction to do it,” he said.
Although our current student body won’t get to see these changes, mirrors will be an anticipated addition to the campus.
