Finding yourself in fifth hour feeling angry and devastated, your face flushed and your nerves frayed. Those around you assume you’ve had a terrible day, but the truth is, you’re merely frustrated because you were stuck behind a slow walker on the way to class.

No matter where it is, or what someone is doing, everyone has that one thing that gets on their nerves. We wondered what really frustrated WO students, so we asked what their biggest pet peeves were. Here is our list of the top 10 pet peeves at WOHS. 

10 – Cracking knuckles

What would you say to those who insist that being annoyed by knuckle cracking is a distraction from bigger issues like personal boundaries? Maybe they just need to crack their own knuckles and let it go! Besides, if we’re fighting over knuckle sounds, we’re probably not discussing the real deal, like how to stop the pet goldfish from plotting world domination.

9 – Pen clicking in class

Some people have declared pen-clicking in class as their ultimate pet peeve. Seriously, who needs a class clown when you’ve got a pen-clicking maestro over there? I mean, no one’s even talking, yet the pen is getting all the blame for its symphony of sound! It’s like, “Hey pen, stop being so noisy!” But really, it’s like blaming the fridge for making ice while everyone else is just silently pondering the meaning of life. Can we all agree that the pen only tries to keep the rhythm of our boredom going? 

8 – Talking too much

Some folks say talking too much is their biggest pet peeve. But seriously, why are we mad at chatty people? It’s way more fun than sitting in awkward silence! Plus, all that gabbing could save you from missing your surprise party. Imagine sipping coffee while your friend’s spilling the beans, and suddenly you’re like, “Wait, what? I need to find my dinosaur costume?” So maybe those chatterboxes are just keeping us in the loop—one hilarious birthday party at a time!

7 – Leaving you on open

There’s absolutely no argument here—it’s the ultimate crime against humanity! Picture this: someone opens your message, and suddenly you’re spiraling, thinking, “Did I say something wrong?’ Or does my face scream, ‘Desperate for attention’?” It’s like you’re stuck in a dramatic soap opera where the suspense is whether or not they’re going to reply! Honestly, it’s a texting game of emotional charades, and let’s be real, nobody wants to play that!

6 – Cutting lines

Imagine you’re in the cafeteria, your stomach growling like a bear awakened from hibernation, just waiting to snag a slice of cheesy pizza. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a ninja—yes, a full-on stealth-mode ninja—cuts right in front of you! You blink, and poof! The line magically seems longer than a queue at a theme park on a Saturday. Now, every second feels like an eternity, and you can practically hear your stomach staging a protest with angry growls. Nobody wants to experience that kind of hunger-induced existential crisis—seriously, they should put warning signs on the pizza!

Honorable mention – People biting their nails

Have you ever seen someone chewing their nails like it’s their last meal? It’s the horror movie of daily life! I mean, if nail-biting were an Olympic sport, some folks would be gold medalists. Is it hygienic? Absolutely not! Watching it makes me want to douse my hands in sanitizer and question all my life choices. Yikes!

5 – Not walking in a straight line

Imagine walking down a hallway with a friend who has the navigational skills of a drunken squirrel. Suddenly, you’re squished against the wall because they can’t seem to walk in a straight line. It’s like they’re auditioning for a role in a slapstick comedy! You’d think they need some sort of yellow brick road to follow, or at least a traffic cone to dodge. And there you are, trapped like a piece of furniture, contemplating your life choices while trying to avoid the trash bin—because let’s be honest, at this point, you’re just one accidental bump away from becoming a human obstacle course!

4 – Interrupting Conversations

Mid-conversation with your teacher about the latest test and suddenly, the kid who never does any work dramatically declares, ”Have you seen the new Grinch meme?” Your teacher’s eyes glaze over, completely losing track of the important chat and you can’t even finish your five-minute conversation about the most important test you took all semester. Thanks a lot, kid!

3 – Stopping  in the middle of the hallway

You’re racing down the hallway like you’re in a Formula 1 race, adrenaline pumping, when suddenly—BAM! A group of students forms a blockade like they’re the guards of a medieval castle. You try to maneuver around them, but it’s like a human game of Twister—left foot on “Ugh,” right hand on “Seriously?” Thanks to this impromptu traffic jam, I’m now officially the proud owner of a tardy slip! Hallway traffic should seriously be a valid excuse! 

2 – Eating with mouth open

Thank goodness I’m not in this battle alone! A lot of people agree that this is the ultimate pet peeve. Picture this: you’re enjoying your lunch, savoring every bite like you’re at a Michelin-star restaurant, and then—BAM!—your friend starts chewing like they’re auditioning for a role in a nature documentary about hungry gorillas tackling a banana. It’s as if your ears just picked up the sound of a tornado alarm, and suddenly you’re caught in a full-blown audio disaster! You can practically feel the vibrations shaking the table. Next thing you know, you’re debating whether to offer them a salad or a zoo membership!

1 – Slow walkers

Oh boy, here we go! The number one pet peeve at West Ottawa High School? Slow walkers. Imagine you’re racing to class, clock ticking down like a bomb, and boom, a group gliding through the halls like they’re on a Sunday stroll! You try to zigzag past, but it’s like navigating a human traffic jam! Now you’re late, frustrated, and mentally drafting a hate list. Can someone please hit the fast-forward button?