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Put The Phone Down.

If you're with me, then be with me.

May 22, 2017

Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis

Take a moment to consider the amount of time in your day that is spent starring at a 5 inch LCD screen. You are doing it right now (since it's because you're reading my article it's okay). On average, Americans spend around 4.7 hours a day on their phone, which equals spending 23 days a year that you wasted in a relationship between you and your phone. IT REALLY IS NOT OKAY. While you stare down at your phone texting, reloading Instagram and Snapchat, or pointlessly playing around, you are missing the world that is living around you.

YOU ARE being incredibly RUDE! It is not fun to hangout with you while you're taking endless pictures of yourself and staring at conversations you are having with other people. I am here sitting next to you, yet you are not even acknowledging my presence in any shape or form. It truly makes the person outside the screen feel awkward, not valuable enough to have your time, and just plain stupid. I'm not saying if you check your phone I'll hate you or if you take a couple snaps I'll be annoyed, but it is such a waste to use our limited face to face time together to not even be communicating. So often when I am with my friends we are all just sitting in the same room playing on our phones. We barely even talk anymore. The most valuable thing in this life is having the presence of others. The cell phone that is always attached to you is quickly ruining that. If you want to be with me, then be with me; if you will be on your phone the whole entire time, then I'm going home.

When you are constantly on your phone it actually becomes an addiction. You can't leave a room let alone the house without your phone in your hand. Everything you do must be shared with people on social media. And then, your mind is completely consumed about how many likes your picture is getting and who liked it and if you should've used a different filter. You also spend so much time obsessing over what other people are doing, reloading apps every 6 seconds to see if they have updated their life. In reality, you aren't even taking the time to live in the moment you are just trying so hard to document the moment. You are missing the beautiful world around you. LOOK UP, LIVE OUTSIDE YOUR SCREEN, PLEASE PUT YOUR PHONE DOWN.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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Put The Phone Down.

If you're with me, then be with me.

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We don't buy into these... just like how we don't buy our friends.

8. "The whole philanthropy thing isn't real, right?"

7. "I don't need to buy my friends."

6. "Oh, so I'll bet you love to drink."

5. "Can you tell me some of your secrets?"

4. "What do you do at your meetings?"

3. "Do you guys haze really badly?"

2. "Is it just like in the movies?"

1. "Sororities are so basic."

There are plenty of obstacles that come when taking care of kids, but it's a very rewarding experience.

1. You get excited when the parents purchase season passes to the pool.

2. You've become friends with the stay-at-home moms in town.

3. You get a chance to eat "kid foods" again.

4. You've traded in your cute purse for a large tote bag.

5. You have at least one car seat in your backseat.

6. Their nap time is your happy time.

7. Lunch time can be a disaster.

8. You have to play the same board games repeatedly.

9. You catch yourself using the same lines your parents once told you.

10. Your "mom-mode" kicks in at times.

11. Your heart melts a little when they do something cute.

You'll never find any souvenirs with your name on it

1. You know you are up next when the teacher pauses while taking attendance

2. When “I’m going to do my very best to make sure I know all your names” is said, it may or may be an empty promise

3. “Wow! That sounds so cool! Where is your family from?”

4. You dread when people ask you to repeat your name over and over because it “sounds so cool when you say it”

5. There’s a 50/50 chance that your name will come back either correct or incorrect at Starbucks

6. People try to find shorter, easier nicknames for you instead of calling you by your actual name

7. When someone famous or fictional character shares your name, you get so happy

8. “What’s your name?” “It’s [name]” “I’m sorry, what was it again?”

9. You’ve pretty much seen every misspelling and heard every mispronunciation of your name throughout your life

10. When you find another person with an “ethnic” sounding name, you both get excited

11. Despite the struggles, your name is pretty unique… just like you

Can I be excused for the rest of my life?

Don't Be That Person

1. “Oh, so you/your family are immigrants!”

2. “Is Puerto Rico near Mexico?”

3. “Do you speak Puerto Rican?”

4. “You look too light/dark to be Puerto Rican.”

5. “Do I need my passport to go to Puerto Rico?”

6. “Geez, you are obsessed with your flag. We get it, you’re Puerto Rican.”

7. “Why are you so loud?”

8. “So does your family know English?”

9. “Oh my god, Puerto Ricans are so spicy.”

10. “So did you eat a lot of tacos?”

11. “Are you Mexican?”

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