Camryn Quinn is finally getting what she wants...sort of. Moving into a dorm and away from her not so supportive father is a good first step, but like everything with him, it comes with strings. She must attend the college of his choosing for at lea...
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I'm reminded of the reason I got to move in two weeks before everyone else after just a few days in my dorm. It was, of course, just another stipulation in the long list of expectations set forth by my dad when I showed interest in actually moving on with my life and going to college.
Nothing involving Ryan Quinn is ever clean cut. Strings are always attached, whether I like it or not. Which is why when I'm currently reading the informational email about helping move students into their dorms.
My dad coined it a win-win situation when he first brought it up. I'm sure he saw it as an opportunity to keep me busy, but I just saw it as a chance to expedite my leaving his house.
The message is long winded and I find myself skimming most of it, but I do catch the essence of the job. Check that the student's name matches my sheet, and their ID, and give them a cart to haul their belongings. Niceties aren't even really necessary. It's nothing more than a step by step process. Repetition. I could do a meaningless task like that for hours.
I've been told that my body language doesn't scream approachable, but rather than a character flaw, I consider it my most charming attribute. It takes most people way too long to realize that awkward silences are a good thing and that small talk isn't necessary for every single person you meet.
A campus this large was actually one of the only things in the pro column of my list. The chances of ever seeing any of these people again is slim. And if I do see them, the chances of me interacting with them voluntarily are next to none.
When my dad set this up for me, he probably didn't even know what it entailed. He doesn't care if I enjoy myself or not. He would actually probably prefer it if I didn't.
Uncomfortable situations build problem solving and executive functioning skills. And keeping me busy won't allow me time to make other decisions. Decisions that might poorly reflect on him.
Regardless of what my dad thinks about me, or how I like to fill my time, I do like to stay busy. I like to do things by a schedule. It lets me know what to expect and having an agenda leaves little room for error. Or at the very least, it gives me a chance to think through every possible scenario that could happen. I've learned that it helps me to maximize the success but minimize the mistakes.
After rereading the email, I carefully made a plan. What time I needed to wake up, what outfit I would wear. I even planned enough time to grab breakfast from the campus cafe across the street.
When the next morning comes, I realize quickly that I failed to plan for the unpredictability of day to day life in a city. Like the sound of construction going on outside my window before the sun has even begun peeking through the cracks in the blinds. Several machines sound off simultaneously like a symphony of deafening assembly work.
