When I was a high school teacher, I had challenges with the arrangement of the desks and chairs.
No matter how I arranged the classroom, some students would end up in the back of the class — furthest away from my desk. Even if the students were arranged in a circular manner, some students would still be further away from me and the whiteboard.
As a result, every new school year, students would try to find a seat nearest to where they see my desk. One year, a particular student — we’ll call her Susan — was not so fortunate. By the time she got to our first class, she was one of the students furthest away from me.
I could tell that she was upset even though she said nothing.
As if to make a statement about her annoyance, she moved her desk and chair to the extreme back of the class and sat by herself; away from everyone else.
I watched her. Shortly after, I asked her to return to sit with the rest of the class. She reluctantly returned the desk and chair to the original position and sat down.