Of the many, MANY things that have grown to annoy me in the last few years, somewhere near the top of my list is the ubiquitous use of headphones. People at work think they have to wear them, athletes warming up for a game in which music is already blasting in an enormous stadium think they have to wear them, and even people just walking around think they have to wear them. Few things bother me more about today's college campuses than students wandering from building to building with their earbuds in.
For everyone out there, but especially for students, let me give you a piece of advice. How you present yourself in public matters a great deal. How you dress, how you smell, how you speak--it's all important. So how are you presenting yourself to others when you constantly wear earbuds? Here's the message we all receive, whether you intend it or not:
You are showing the world that no one else matters, that the rest of reality doesn't exist and that "my choice of music flowing into only my ears is so important that no one else should bother me." You are sending the visual message that you like to be seen, but you don't want to have to engage with anyone. You are saying, "I want you to look at me (and my cool buds), but I don't want you to talk to me." You might as well be wearing a sign that says, "I only care about my own world."
You are choosing to avoid human interaction, which is kind of the purpose of, you know, being human, and you are missing out on potential opportunities for growth. What if someone wants to talk to you about a job opportunity? What if a professor wants to commend you for a great paper you wrote. What if a fan wants to congratulate you on a great game you played? What if that cute girl/guy wants to say hello and ask you out for coffee? Imagine, when they see your earbuds, they think, "Never mind--looks like he/she doesn't want to talk to me." What if... Instead, you're choosing to tell all of them that they aren't as important as whatever dopey song is bouncing around inside your own head.
By closing out the world, yes, you may get to avoid the senseless chit-chat and inane and annoying confrontations of everyday life. But you may also be missing out on something important, something that could literally change your life--which is sort of the point of going to college.
So, here's a challenge. Unless you are at the gym (where I have absolutely no problem with earbud use), try for the month of November not to wear earbuds when you're out in public, especially at school. Try walking across campus with your head up and a smile on your face. Say hello to people, be friendly, be present. You never know what great things the world has in store for you if you're willing to listen.
#NobudsNovember
For everyone out there, but especially for students, let me give you a piece of advice. How you present yourself in public matters a great deal. How you dress, how you smell, how you speak--it's all important. So how are you presenting yourself to others when you constantly wear earbuds? Here's the message we all receive, whether you intend it or not:
You are showing the world that no one else matters, that the rest of reality doesn't exist and that "my choice of music flowing into only my ears is so important that no one else should bother me." You are sending the visual message that you like to be seen, but you don't want to have to engage with anyone. You are saying, "I want you to look at me (and my cool buds), but I don't want you to talk to me." You might as well be wearing a sign that says, "I only care about my own world."
You are choosing to avoid human interaction, which is kind of the purpose of, you know, being human, and you are missing out on potential opportunities for growth. What if someone wants to talk to you about a job opportunity? What if a professor wants to commend you for a great paper you wrote. What if a fan wants to congratulate you on a great game you played? What if that cute girl/guy wants to say hello and ask you out for coffee? Imagine, when they see your earbuds, they think, "Never mind--looks like he/she doesn't want to talk to me." What if... Instead, you're choosing to tell all of them that they aren't as important as whatever dopey song is bouncing around inside your own head.
By closing out the world, yes, you may get to avoid the senseless chit-chat and inane and annoying confrontations of everyday life. But you may also be missing out on something important, something that could literally change your life--which is sort of the point of going to college.
So, here's a challenge. Unless you are at the gym (where I have absolutely no problem with earbud use), try for the month of November not to wear earbuds when you're out in public, especially at school. Try walking across campus with your head up and a smile on your face. Say hello to people, be friendly, be present. You never know what great things the world has in store for you if you're willing to listen.
#NobudsNovember