A Taste of STEP

One crucial component of being a Schuler Scholar is STEP. Once a week, Scholars stay after school with their class for about an hour and half to learn about a variety of topics and practice different skills. For example, at Warren this semester, our Seniors have been preparing for their next four years with a “Transition to College” STEP. Along with Scholar Coaches Hunter and Stephanie, the Seniors have discussed financial wellness, stress management, building and maintaining relationships, and navigating different identities in college, among other topics. The Freshmen class had a three-week “Critical Problem Solving” STEP, which included friendly competitions in building the tallest spaghetti marshmallow towers and sturdiest tin foil boats. Our Juniors are currently writing speeches for their “Public Speaking” STEP, and the Sophomores are preparing for their Summer College Programs!

Despite all of this fun and fascinating content, there’s one thing that, above all else, keeps Scholars coming back to STEP week after week - the snacks. Thanks to our rockstar Office Manager and Snack Purchaser Extraordinaire, Ave Spencer (see image below), each week the Scholars enjoy a plethora of snacks to choose from. Every Scholar is allowed two snacks, but with so many great options, how do they choose?

Here at Warren, we’ve been struggling with a truly essential question: Which STEP snack is the best? Is it Rice Krispie Treats? Fruit snacks? Pretzels? We knew it would be a tight race. So we put the question to the Scholars. We asked them to both vote for their favorite STEP snack and write a short testimonial in defense of why their choice is the best.

Drum roll, please…

Here are the results!

As you can see, two snacks seem to rise far above the rest: Takis and Assorted Chips (which include Classic, BBQ and Sour Cream & Onion Lay’s, Fritos, Cheetos and Doritos). But now, the question is why? Let’s see what the Scholars had to say.

On Assorted Chips…

Some Scholars chose them for the memories, like Vanessa Delgado ‘21.

“I love chips because it reminds me of camp. When I was at camp I craved chips the whole week. And when I eat them now. I feel the satisfaction of when I had them when I came home from camp.”

Others, like Brandon Angulo ‘20 chose them for the variety and camaraderie they bring to STEP.

“Chips are good because it provides option so we can choose from many different flavors. Everyone always goes for the chips first so it’s like a competition.”

It seems that a few Scholars chose Assorted Chips specifically because they include Hot Cheetos. One anonymous Scholar, however, had a few things to say about College Counselor Uriel Gonzalez’s snack distribution habits...

“Hot Cheetos are the best hands down. They are spicy, savory and amazing. I have a complaint, there is never ever ever Hot Cheetos for second step except with Ave and Gala. I’m talking about you Uriel. I disapprove of the healthy nature valley bars. Go Cheetos.”

For others, like Shannon Antonio ‘19, it was simple.

“I just really like chips!”

On Takis…

When talking about Takis, many Scholars mentioned a preference for spice. But the responses also suggest that Scholars probably already knew that Takis would win. Apparently, there’s quite a bit of competition over them at STEP.

“Takis are always the move. Everyone fights for them. All in all, if There’s takis in the schuler snack box, Scholars are boxing for them.”

-Ellie Rodriguez ‘18

“I love takis because it always satisfies my cravings and it's always a little race to get the takis in the box before they run out in STEP.”

-Destiny Alvarez ‘19

“I lovvvveee Takis. Since they were limited people came to STEP earlier just to get them.”

-Esther Pincate ‘19

So now we know what the Scholars prefer. But what about staff? There’s no way Scholar Coaches could so effectively and energetically lead STEP without a little snack fuel. So what’s their favorite? Again, the answer was clear…

The almighty ALMOND BUTTER BISCUIT.

Or as we lovingly refer to it, the ABB.

Scholar Coaches’ testimonials to the ABB almost brought me to tears. Their love for the snack is undeniable. Take a look.

“Oh ABB, thine butter is so sweet, so creamy. Thine wafers interstice thine butter with a ratio approaching perfection, the paragon of beauty and harmony, manifested in one crisp, ovate, biscuit. Thine cinnamon pops, and bursts, and my palate waters. Oh ABB, Oh ABB.”

-Jamo Karsten, Scholar Coach

“In the due course of our collective human history, we seldom are confronted with such complexity and palate genius as with the Almond Butter Biscuit. Savor this moment! Don’t let it slip away into the monotonous hamster wheel that is our ‘snack time’. The ABB, if you take the liberty to abbreviate such a human masterpiece, is a one of those happenstances of sweet revelry that remind us what makes this life such a mystery, dare I say our voyage.”

-Hunter Brown, Scholar Coach

“ABB baby!!”

-Marie Breingan, Scholar Coach

Not to ignore all of the many other snacks, here’s a few other standout responses…

On Cheez-Its…

“Cheez-its are a very solid snack choice. The combination of great taste and slight fillingness is very satisfying. The compact squares in which they come in, perfectly matches the snack itself. Overall Cheez-its have the best characteristics to make it the best STEP Snack.”

-Demetrius Palmer ‘20

“The golden snack is the hierarchy and most beloved snack that has set my tongue. The snack endures all five senses making me happy around my fellow scholars. Without a doubt, the Cheez-it is my favorite snack.”

-Omar Hernandez ‘21

On Fruit Snacks…

“Fruit Snacks are the BEST snacks of all. They are not a desert, but not savory either so they satisfy everyone. AND they are cost effective and last for forever. I SINCERELY AND WHOLEHEARTEDLY ENDORSE FRUIT SNACKS (especially the costco general brand). BUT: my second fav is cookies :)))”

-Sarah Lev ‘20

On Pirate’s Booty…

“Avast ye mateys! Arrr, so ye want t’ know me favorite snack eh? Well then, grab ye self a fist full of grog and listen to me tale. Sure fire way to hornswaggle yer mate is to eat their Pirates Booty, savvy?. Never have I laid eyes on such a treasure! Those golden puffs are enough to put wind in the sail of any swashbuckler. Alast stranded in the driest dulrums, under the barest of poles; those cheesy powder balls will set the Jolly Roger flying high. Keep a weather eye open me hearty. Ye never know when Pirates Booty could strike the horizon. A Pirates Booty life, yo ho!”

-A Mysterious Capt. Brown

On Pringles…

“YOU’RE NOT BUYING AIR AND THERE ARE SO MANY FLAVORS AND THEY’RE SO CRUNCHY”

-Daniela Villagomez ‘18

“Pringles is the only snack that doesn't make the crumpling sound everytime you want to go in for more drawing attention to yourself during what is most likely supposed to be a silent moment leaving a trail of embarrassment on whoever did it.”

-Tinyah Ervin ‘19

  

On Scooby Snacks…

“It’s nostalgic. I used to eat these religiously as a kid. Also I’m a dawg so it suits me b/c it’s a dawg snack.”

-Nelson Austria ‘20

“It’s good.”

-Mani Tangellamudi