Music is all around students, from the background song in the YouTube video they’re watching to the songs played in Target while they’re shopping.
But sometimes that isn’t enough.
A part of some students’ morning routine is to pack their headphones before going to school. But how many people at Cal High incorporate music into their daily schedule?
According to a survey conducted by The Californian, 83 percent, or 202 of 243 students who responded, said they listen to music during school hours. This response is not surprising.
About 63 percent of students who listen to music at school said the headphones they use are AirPods. This isn’t shocking because of the popularity that these wireless earbuds have amassed over the years.
“They look the best,” senior Zach Daluyaya said. “I focus better while listening to music.”
The compact size of AirPods makes them convenient for many students to carry during the school day.
“They are small so they are easy to carry around,” junior Gray Barco said. “I also have big [headphones], but they are bulkier.”
The comfort, size and general popularity of AirPods seem to be the biggest contributing factors to why Cal students prefer them over other headphones.
“They work well and they are comfortable,” freshman Mckenna Pfotenhauer said. “They are also very basic.”
AirPods are popular for other reasons besides their small size.
“They are the most compatible with my phone,” senior Sumedha Varanasi said.
It’s fairly common to walk down the halls and spot at least one student wearing headphones.
“In my friend group alone, all of my close friends are always wearing headphones,” senior Reese Ryan said. “I listen to it [music] whenever I can, even in class if the teacher allows it.”
The classic wired earbuds and headphones are also another favorite of Cal students. According to the survey, 17 percent of the students who responded wear them. The most common reason provided was because the wired earbuds and headphones are visually pleasing.
“I use the JBL headphones honestly for the aesthetic,” Ryan said. “I like how they look.”
Even though there are many other popular headphones used by Cal students, there are also many overlooked ones that students tend to overlook.
Freshman Haya Mohamad said there are other headphones that work just as well as AirPods, such as her Sony Beats Wireless Bluetooth Headphones.
“They are good quality and cheap,” Mohamed said. “They are in my backpack right now in fact.”
Some other headphones that students said they use include the Sony Beats Studio, Bose Quiet Comfort, and JBL headphones.
But not all students bring their listening devices to school. Even though a majority of students listen to music in school, 17 percent of students indicated they don’t.
“I don’t listen to music at school because I have the AirPod [Pro]Max,” sophomore Abbigale Montgomery said. “They are expensive, and I don’t want something to happen to them.”
In the end, whether it’s to add a little pizazz to students’ outfits, to help them lock in for their next test or to eliminate distractions, students have different reasons for choosing the headphones they do (or don’t) bring to school.
