Oh my dear cellphone...time to give me a break!

I have always noticed students whip up their cellphone whenever they get on the campus bus or are having dinner at the dining hall alone.

It is like they have an obsessive need to never be caught doing anything alone...these people seem to think that if someone catches them alone or without talking to someone, they will be taken as a person who doesn't have such a social life or something like that.

As a second-year student, I smile when I see this especially happening with the freshman that I am surrounded by. Not that I am intentionally eavesdropping, but I have overheard some conversations and they go like this:
"Hey, what is up?"
"Not much"
"Well, I just thought I would call...since I am seeing you in like 5 minutes"
"Yeah, dude"
"See ya, then"

Then the caller moves on to the next person on their list. In fact, one of my friends actually mentioned that while he was waiting somewhere and got bored, he consequently called around 8 people to entertain him and I was one of the top on his list. I was shocked to hear this, and yet amused. I asked him why he simply couldn't read a book or a magazine. After all, he was at the airport...I can just get lost in an airport's glory...especially Chicago's airport...but not this guy...he had to look as if he was busy with someone on the phone.

Anyways...my heart reaches to some of these people, like for example, a particular freshman who I have ALWAYS seen on the while eating. From the minute she enters the dining room to the time she puts away her dishes...she is on the phone...why wouldn't someone just put the phone down and savor a nice meal with some relaxation.

Honestly, the phone hurts...it hurts to hold it after a while as well as my ear gets tired...so I have the tendency to not pick up my phone many times...eeks...and I get many reprimands about that especially from friends!!! Sorry, guys!!!

Lastly, I just want let these people know that I used to feel awkward too when I would be eating alone or on the bus alone and I also felt the need to talk to someone...in fact, I wouldn't even go to dinner unless I had someone to go with me! Naive me from last year.

This year, I honestly don't have time to coordinate my friends' schedules so I can have dinner or lunch with them...I savor my meal and relax while I am eating....every bite...without any interruptions. I don't feel the obsessive need to always be on the phone.

People need to realize that there is a different sense of peace in solace. Everyone tries to fit in and one tactic to fit in is through cellphones...but sometimes...they should just look beyond the materialism and not care what others think for once in their life!