Smartphoneless

A few hours ago as I was loading the dishwasher, my iPhone slid off of the counter and the screen stopped functioning. It digitally created white and blue lines that filled the screen and didn't permit me to see the actual phone, but I was able to tell that the operating system was still working. I have insurance, the phone didn't crack and overall, it should be a pretty easy fix.

But I freaked out. Faster heart rate, tears and being upset at the situation. It's a Sunday night so there was nowhere open for me to get the issue fixed, and because of my work and commute hours, I'm going to have to rush to scrunch in some time at Best Buy to see what can be done. 

It's a pretty normal feeling these days to be let down without a cell phone; they are vital to our communication and the rise of the mobile market and smartphones in particular is massive. As I sat down in silence to think about what I could do, analyze why exactly I was upset and how many other ways I could communicate with people, I determined some reasons for this depression.

A simple one could be our reliance on smartphones. My tentative plan for Monday was staying in the city, taking the L to Lincoln Park and meeting friends for dinner, taking the L back to the suburbs and calling for a ride home. Without a phone, I can't call for rides, map out where I'm going or check the train schedule. Thankfully, I quickly realized that because of my do-it-yourself personality with these things, this was only a minute reason because I don't rely on applications as much as some of my friends do. I wasn't worried about getting lost, having a mobile computer to save information on or being "cellphoneless"- I've spent chunks of time out of the country where I function perfectly fine without a phone (despite how much I love to talk). 

The bulk of my sadness about the broken phone was not how much it would inconvenience me, but how much it inconveniences those around you. I was in the middle of a few conversations, waiting for some calls back and now don't know what these people said. I have to drastically change my plans for Monday because I can't confirm where exactly I'll meet my friends to commute together before dinner. And I can't communicate with my parents to pick me up, so now I have to use a car and pay to park at the local train station. People rely on others being accessible, and even if they're not responsive to calls, texts or emails, others are fairly certain that they notice them. 

Therefore, I'm hoping to take some days away from my phone and trust that those I'm close with have other ways of contacting me, like a house phone number or email. I sincerely apologize for anyone I have inconvenienced and hope that the issue is fixable! 

Marina Keegan's inspirational writing

Last week, a Yale student journalist and recently graduated senior Marina Keegan died in a car accident. The tragedy received national attention because of stories Keegan had written that solicited conversation across the web. I read through some of her clips from the Yale Daily News, and respect not only Marina's fascinating writing ability, but the pieces she wrote and the themes these uncovered. I want to share three of her stories and encourage you to check them out.

The opposite of loneliness: Right before her college graduation, Marina wrote about the feeling that is the opposite of being lonely, for which no words can describe. Such a feeling is so prominent on a college campus where you really feel at home, because of living in dormitories, close circles of friends and courses and activities that bring people together. She explains how this feeling is something to celebrate and not solely believe you can only live once. We should strive to live the opposite of loneliness- maintaining relationships and pursuing opportunities that let us enjoy life.

Even artichokes have doubts: Being the story that sparked conversation across the country, Marina explains how a large chunk of college graduates enter finance and consulting professions after college. She writes that business recruiters have the system down, know how to recruit undergrads and make jobs that they were unaware of and even uninterested in seem incredibly appealing. Many of these jobs contribute to keeping the rich richer and studies report that people want to fulfill altruistic goals. Because of this, Marina drives students to maintain their passions and not let a salary or benefits drive your career choice.

Senior year without society: In this piece, she writes about how you don't need to be tapped into a secret society to enjoy college and meet others you would not have met. With this tradition at Yale being just as prominent at Mizzou, this well-written essay keeps us looking at our experiences with optimism and not hostility.