If you’ve ever broken an iPhone, you know the dreaded feeling when you realize that you’re going to have to survive at least a few hours without the device. On paper, it doesn’t sound that bad, or at least it shouldn’t. However, last night, around 11:30, the screen of my phone went completely unresponsive, and I immediately felt like I had no control.

I was at my friend’s dorm when my phone stopped working. It didn’t take more than thirty seconds for me to feel the effects of what it was like living without technology at my fingertips. My first question: well how am I going to get home now if I can’t call an Uber and I can’t check and see when the next T is coming? I don’t wan’t to stand out there waiting without a phone, is it safe this late at night? Luckily, my friend could call an Uber for me, but what if my phone had broken while I was alone?

I arrived home at my dorm around midnight which is when I remembered I had a doctor’s appointment the next morning at 9. There was no way I could make it, it’s pretty far away, and I always Uber there. Well, I would just reschedule, no problem right? Then I realized in order to reschedule, I had to be able to call the doctor, which would mean I needed a phone. I went looking for my roommate to find her phone to borrow. I finally got her phone, but then “*&#!@%!!!!” My doctor’s number is in my broken phone. However, few minutes of Google Searching got me the phone number. Thank God!

Alright, it’s 12:30 now. I should probably get to bed, since I will have to make my way to the Verizon store at 9 in the morning tomorrow to hopefully fix the phone situation. I like to shower in the morning, so I’ll wake up at 7:30. But wait…. I am NOT the morning person, how am I supposed to wake up then? It’s not like people use regular alarms anymore….

Long story short, at 7:30 in the morning, I woke up to my lovely roommate Tanvi telling me “SAM WAKE UP!!!!” Good thing she has a working iPhone. Before I knew it, I was making my way into the city. Of course this was after I failed in plugging my headphones into my iPhone to listen to music… at what point am I going to learn that my iPhone does not work?!?!

I have a theory about dysfunctional iPhones. I’ve had a lot of issues with my various iPhones over the years. I’ve had the iPhone 4s, 5, and 6, and there’s always problems. But whenever I walk into either the Apple Store or the Verizon Store to fix the phone, the problem instantly disappears. Today was no exception. The second I passed through the doors into the Verizon store, the screen instantly turned on. Everything was “normal.” You’ve got to be kidding me, right? But don’t think I left the store without being rewarded for the struggles I had to endure the past day. The woman working sales informed me that I was actually eligible for an upgrade; say hello to the iPhone 7! Let’s hope the screen works longer than the last one. I don't know how I'll survive another 12 hours without my technology best friend.