In a haze a rush of seniors carrying boxes hurry out their class announcing to the world “CHOCOLATE!!! WHO WANTS CHOCOLATE??”
In the past month John Dewey High School has been fumed by what researchers and scientists are calling the “Chocolate Epidemic”. Teachers and students hear them in the hallways, in the staircases and in the school lawns practically pleading with passersby to make a purchase.
Many have wondered, what has caused this epidemic? Is there a cure? What is the DOE doing to minimize the spread?
In a desperate attempt seniors at JDHS are selling chocolate to fund their senior dues, with rising inflation rates it’s no wonder the price for prom and graduation has skyrocketed. Seniors and their families are expected to scratch up 400 dollars to pay for these expenses. Despite the intense price tag this doesn’t include other senior charges such as sweaters, rings, trips, senior breakfast etc which could also be an additional 400. Many are questioning if the price is even worth it.
But for seniors who wish to go to prom and graduation, they sell chocolate to help minimize how much their parents have to pay out of pocket… despite their efforts they know it’s a long way to go until they’re able to fund the full price. Each chocolate box has 60 bars, selling at 1 dollar each—while securing a 60 dollar revenue, seniors only receive 25 dollars from each box they sell. Meaning each student has to sell 16 boxes if they wish to cover the full price.
(Seniors Keisha Augustin and Patricia Hardy posing in class with their chocolate boxes. Photo by Alissah Augustin.)
Yu Bing Xie Wu, one of the seniors selling chocolate said “Me and my dad were talking about how we only get 25 dollars from the boxes we sell, and what he was saying made a lot of sense to me. The school has to make a profit especially since were not paying to sell boxes so I understand why we only get 25 from each box.”
Seniors have compared selling chocolate to having a full time job, many say it’s exhausting carrying the boxes to and from school everyday and they also struggle with feeling like they’re invading their schoolmates space by constantly asking to make a purchase.
Michelle, another senior who’s been selling chocolate says “I do find it a little annoying to be selling chocolate, it’s a little overwhelming to bring the boxes to school everyday and I hate feeling like I’m annoying others by asking to buy.”
Xie Wu said something similar about selling chocolates “Currently I’m on my 8th box and honestly I’m mentally tired of constantly hustling to sell, and I also see my friends trying really hard to sell, but sometimes it can be kind of fun.”
The student body and teachers have a wave of opinions surrounding the rising number of students who are selling chocolate, some teachers argue that it’s disruptive and takes away from class time while others understand the reason why many seniors are tenacious about selling chocolate.
Mr. Solo, the photography and ceramics teacher at JDHS says “I try to have students sell me their remaining chocolates that they need to sell for their senior dues at the end of class to minimize disruption, I like to use the chocolates as a reward in class.” Mr.Solo believes that selling chocolate isn’t disruptive, though there is a time and place when students should and shouldn’t be selling chocolate, he’s glad to help any student sell to fund their senior dues.
So while the chocolate epidemic continues to spread–the student body will be bombarded by seniors.
