Being back at school means I'm often powering through the hallways trying to get to class on time. This also means I have all kinds of time to observe other students and ponder their lives at some length. Sometimes this leads to awkward levels of staring on my part, or as I described it Monday, "Sometimes I weirdly make weird eye contact with my subject and we both are forced to acknowledge the weirdness of the moment. It's weird."
Entering the second full week of class, I've developed several questions:
1) How does one become the type of person who can rock a full head of hot pink hair? I've experimented with a fair few hair colours myself, but they've all been varying shades of conservative. In no way can I relate to the girl on my block with pink hair. Every time I see her, I make up all kinds of cool traits that she must have that I do not. She probably can juggle fire, and fit her entire fist in her mouth. She's also probably one of those people who can walk into a thrift store and magically come out with something designer and vintage, and then wear that item with superb confidence. Seriously, I think confidence is the major characteristic. She's trying to be different, and is totally making it work. I'm so jealous.
2) Why do couples still think it's cool to make out in hallways? I was walking to class (not even late!) behind a couple holding hands, something I'm fine with. Hand-holding is cute, actually. Anyway, just as they're about to walk through the doors into another building, they stop and latch their faces together, complete with some awkward head holding. Fortunately, I noticed soon enough to avoid crashing into them, and was able to social skilllessly skirt around them to continue on my way. Moral of the story: express your love/lust at home. Image the horror that would have occurred had I been texting and walking, and not dodged their embrace at the last second. It makes me nauseous to think about it.
3) Why do people text and walk? I actually have the answer for this one. It's a two-part response. First, if we text and walk, we don't have to engage with people we don't know. That prevents awkward moments as discussed in question one. Also, texting gives us the appearance of popularity, maybe importance, and definitely is a cool way to show off a nifty cellphone. Second, wexting (because "talking" was already taken) is like a fun sport full of risks and gambles. Can I walk in a straight line and avoid all other people, or will I crash into a trash can and take a Lindsay Lohan in Mean Girls type of tumble? Plus, you know, walking into hazardly placed couples. That's a real danger. They're everywhere.
4) When is it OK to correct your teacher? I know, this definitely ties in with the "don't think you're smarter than your prof" advice I wrote about at the end of summer. I'm not being a hypocrite, but sometimes, rarely, professors get things wrong.And while I may admire Hermione Granger for her wit and heroics, I'm well aware that people aren't lining up to eat at her lunch table (metaphorically, of course. Gryffindors all eat at the same table.) It's not really cool to be the know-it-all brat who sits in the front row and lets the instructors know when they screw up. Is this ever OK to be this person and still have friends?
Like I said, it's only my second real week of classes and there are lots more observations to come. If you have answers to these questions, or even questions for me, don't hesitate to send them to me at [email protected]. I'd include my cellphone number, but I have enough people calling me todrive them homefrom bars as it is.
Tonaya is serious about how it's OK to e-mail her. She might even reply. She can also be followed at Twitter @tellemarr. Someday she will explain where the whole "Telle" part came from, but not today. And no, she isn't just copying her sister Kendelle.
