This weekend, my roommate was away competing in a triathlon. Whenever she’s gone, I like to try a little experiment that would sound like a nightmare to most college students — a weekend night spent in my dorm room. Alone.
Now by nature, I’m an extrovert. I like hanging out with friends, going to movies, eating at restaurants and having adventures. So I know you’re wondering, did I go crazy and start talking to myself in the mirror? Um, no, but thanks for the vote of confidence. Here is the account of my introverted Friday night.
4:30 p.m. I get out of my last class and reflect on my terrible class-scheduling skills. I tell myself I am going to be epically productive and work on homework until 6:30 (wow I am so smart, driven and awesome.)
4:39 p.m. After nine amazingly focused minutes, I realize that two hours is a long time to do work and I can be just as awesome by doing, say, an hour and a half of work. And then I’ll have time for a run! Wow. Not only am I studious and focused, I’m athletic, too.
5:05 p.m. Let’s be real, it’s a Friday afternoon. Productivity is overrated. I’m working til 5:30. Tops.
5:25 p.m. Okay, new tactic! To use up some time, I’ll practice my cello.
5:45 p.m. That’s enough of that.
6:00 p.m. Okayyyyyy, I guess I have time in my jam-packed schedule to take a run.
6:45 p.m. FOOD!!! Per my plan to barricade myself in my dorm room for the night, I’ve got Lenoir takeout. It’s a great combo of sweet potato fries and salad #health
7:20 p.m. The night is young! Time to watch some movies. Because really, what else would you do on a Friday night alone?
7:21 p.m. I don’t have Netflix
7:22 p.m. Crisis averted! I’ve got Amazon Prime. Low-quality, obscure movies here I come!
9:30 p.m. I’m laying on the floor, midway through “My Best Friend’s Wedding,” when I realize I’m feeling something. In fact, I’m tearing up! And I never cry during movies. Is the alone-ness finally getting to me? Am I on the brink of a meltdown? Am I about to have a panic attack that no one will ever know about because NO HUMAN IS ANYWHERE NEAR ME?
9:31 p.m. I’ve pulled myself back together and am now resigned to the fact that Julia Roberts will not get her man. That’s why I was crying. Totally.
10:00 p.m. Movie number two! Two movies in one night! I am really living on the edge.
10:41 p.m. Movie number two tries to suggest that its characters are like Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet from “Pride and Prejudice.” I have moved beyond tears at this point to full-fledged anger. You do not mess with perfection.
10:58 p.m. I realize that movie number two is a complete waste of time. To show my longsuffering perseverance, however, I soldier on. This movie will not defeat me!
10:59 p.m. My defeat of movie number two is put on hold while I talk to my parents on the phone. What a night. What a night.
12:30 a.m. Pondering the significance of life, eating fries, and lying on my floor have made me exhausted. I go to bed.
And because in journalism we must be honest, I have to admit that I don’t at all regret this experiment. In fact, I think I’ve decided to become an introvert.
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