photo credit: Zion Clifton
Home and school (and for some, also work) are just about the only places people spend their time. While these are such vital places for many, it is still important to have another place to find comfort and seek a sense of community that may not be as evident in other places.
Finding one’s third place is a different task for each person, as each person has a unique place where they seek comfort.
“Your first place is where you live, your second place is where you work or go to school, and your third place can be virtually any location that doesn’t fall into the first two categories. Coffee shops, parks, bookstores, churches and community centers can all function as third places,” according to today.com.
Home and school or work, while often providing places of comfort and productivity, may struggle to produce the sense of community that is vital to one’s social health.
“From a sociological context, we learn about norms and values and kind of just how to be a human in the world through interactions with other people. So, third places give an additional social context for people to learn about what’s appropriate and just to make connections with other human beings,” Sociology Teacher Leslie Hosgood said.
These social hubs are considered very important to one’s social wellbeing, especially in a society that is growing increasingly separated, according to today.com.
“That can be very important outside the home and outside the workplace; you can connect with other people. And that can enrich your life as well as the lives of others,” Hosgood said.
Not only functioning as a platform for socialization, but also as a sort of distraction, third places have become a way for many to escape the troubles that are bound to occur within one’s life.
“Some people might have free time and really be able to soak in the advantages of third places both for socialization but also just as a place to lose stress especially if their home or school or work life isn’t the best,” sophomore Ari Zavarella said.
Third places are characterized as locations that facilitate social interaction outside of the people you live or work with. They are places where people encounter frequenters of a space, as well as potential new connections, according to today.com.
“Third places are important as they provide a space away from family and school. This space should be somewhere where an individual feels comfortable and can destress without the pressures of schoolwork or housework looming over,” sophomore Samira Kandhari said.
Today there are many different types of spaces that can serve as third places.
“As an adult, going out to bars and restaurants is probably the main way I would go to connect with friends,” Hosgood said.
These places could also vary between different types of people and different ages.
“For me, a third place to hang out would be at a restaurant or a coffee shop, where you can get food and also just chat at the same time,” sophomore Aiden Tang said.
For some, their third place varies throughout different experiences in their lives, for example, having another person in one’s life, like a child.
“As a parent, I take my daughter to places like the library, the Franklin Park Conservatory and places like the zoo. But then as an adult a lot of hanging out often revolves around having a meal together,” Hosgood said.
Others tend to find their comfort within a sport.
“I’d say my third place is lacrosse, both school and club. While it is technically at school, it really doesn’t feel like that as it’s set up to feel like a family and a supportive place just as a third place should. If I’m not at home or school, I’m likely playing lacrosse, and I use it as a break from the others as it’s so different,” Zavarella said.
No matter where someone finds their comfort, third places are vital places to foster social connections and strengthen connections.
