You walk into your 10 a.m. lecture and spot your friend, who has graciously saved you a spot toward the back of the lecture hall (because God forbid you sit alone in class). With a black pen in hand, you begin jotting down your professor's ramblings. Your professor goes on a tangent, so you start whispering to your friend about how much the guy two rows in front of you looks like this guy on a TV show that you watch. Your friend is unamused by your comparison and you realize you're being too loud. You're bored and don't want to be loud, so you do what any normal human being would do: you pull out your cell phone. Ah, the entire cyberworld at your fingertips during what is possibly the most lifeless lecture you have ever attended. Two minutes into phone time and someone taps you on the shoulder. You look behind you, and it is none other than your TA for the course. You're in trouble.
We’ve all been through this. Here are the ten stages of being told to put your phone away in class.
1. The blissful ignorance
There you are, typing away on your cell phone, not giving a hoot about what the professor has to say. Whatever you are doing on your phone is way more important than what's going on. You don’t know (and frankly don’t care) if anyone sees you on your phone.
2. The confrontation and subsequent confusion
As you’re scrolling through Instagram, somebody taps you on your shoulder, and you immediately turn around to see that it’s your very own TA scolding you. You’re confused as to how you’ve been spotted in a lecture full of 299 other targets.
3. Embarrassment
How could your own TA embarrass you like that in front of everyone? It seems like the whole world is staring you down. Your face becomes a cherry tomato.
4. Anger
You are deeply offended and angry at your TA. Why were you punished? Not cool.
5. Looking for other culprits
You scan the lecture hall to find other cell phone users. Why weren't they called out as well? Why is it that, in a lecture hall as big as yours, with as many people as there are, you are only one to be called out? If everyone else is on their cell phones, you should be able to be on yours, too.
6. The “I’m paying for this so I should be able to do what I want” thought
You think to yourself: “If I’m paying for my education, I should be able to whatever I want in my classes.” Nobody should be telling you what you should be doing in class because, as much as you’d love it if they would be, they aren't paying for your education.
7. This isn’t middle school
You realize that telling people that they can’t have their phones out during class is so middle school. You’re an adult, and you should be able to make your own decisions by now.
8. This is America
This is America, and you should be able to do whatever you want in the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave. Your TA cannot infringe on your personal rights. Not in America.
9. You start paying attention to lecture again
There are five minutes left of class and you start paying attention again. You are impressed with your professor's knowledge of the subject they are teaching. Who knew someone could know so much about the history of feminist dance theory?
10. Exiting the lecture hall without making eye contact
You bolt to the exit without glancing at anyone around you just so that you don’t have to make eye contact with the TA who yelled at you. Once you make it outside, you take a sigh of relief and make your way to your next class.
