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Articles by Lucie Drahozal
Is the real world going to be like ‘The Office?’
I cannot believe that my days in Charlottesville are numbered. It is surreal to me to think I will be packing up my apartment — headed for home — in just a few weeks. As much as I don’t want to leave the University, I must prepare for the “real world,” as adults so regretfully call it. Let me be entirely transparent — I don’t have a job. I went into college having absolutely no idea what I wanted to do post-grad, and here I am, nearing graduation still not knowing what I want to do.
To YOLO or not to YOLO?
Despite being only 21, I would consider myself to be pretty good at giving advice. However, I certainly do not think I am some fountain of wisdom. My friends may come to me for help, and most times I can think of how to best help them, but sometimes I do not have the answers. And that is because life is very confusing. Every individual approaches their lives with their own outlooks, offering various opinions on situations and different ways of tackling life. Let me give some familiar examples.
A cynical critique of Valentine’s Day
I hate Valentine’s Day. I know — hating this holiday seems to have become a personality trait. It fits the grungy vibe that seems to be trendy nowadays. I wouldn’t say my hatred is that strong. I just hate the unrealistic expectations that some people have for this random day in the middle of February. For myself, I know that no matter what my relationship status is, I should personally try to have low expectations for Valentine’s Day in order to keep myself from getting disappointed.
A simple New Year’s Resolution that I think I can actually keep
I usually make meaningful resolutions. In previous years, I resolved to be kinder to myself, to stop apologizing — which, as a woman, tends to be especially hard — and to write in my journal more. All of these past promises were good. I stuck to some better than others, but they were all made with the intention to be more in touch with myself. My resolution this year may seem silly, but it has the same purpose. I want to become a hat person.
I never thought twinkly lights could make me think so much
Christmas lights have always brought me joy. They are one of those simple pleasures that I always underestimate. At the beginning of the semester, my roommates had hung Christmas lights up in our living room before I had moved in, which made our new apartment already feel like a home. All we needed was to add some candles before we had cultivated the perfect vibe. I think twinkly lights are always nice, but they are especially pretty when they light up people’s houses during the holiday season.
How a flat tire on the first day of class is the greatest metaphor for 2020
Picture this. You have just moved into your fourth-year apartment. You love how the layout of your room and living area turned out. You’re exhausted, but ready to start your last first-day-of-class with a coffee in your sweet, new setup. You’re driving to your favorite coffee shop and notice that the annoying “check tire pressure” light turns on. You aren’t even surprised. Of course something had to go wrong — it’s 2020. This annoying orange light is not foreign to me.
Everyone could use a window
It goes without saying that these are extremely strange times. Our comfort zones have been turned inside out and and backwards, our sense of normalcy completely eradicated by the chaos of this pandemic. In these trying times, I have realized there is one thing I am extremely grateful for — windows. Windows have served as my distractions. It seems obvious — windows bring the natural light inside, let you see out into the world and give you a view of something other than your plain bedroom walls.
The effects of going abroad on everyone
In high school, people always spoke of their desires to go abroad — studying and traveling in a foreign place for a semester and getting to experience both the novelty of a new environment as well as the traditions and cultures of another country. To be honest, I never really understood that. I have always wanted to travel at some point in my life and walk through the cobblestone streets of Paris that we all dream about, sipping on coffee and dressed all chic.
I have become a little feminist woman
After watching the most recent “Little Women” movie, I got to thinking about what the story really means to me. I was first exposed to this story at age four or five when I was bored at my grandma’s and begging for some entertainment. She had ingeniously pulled out the 1949 version, featuring classic actresses like June Allyson and Elizabeth Taylor, and my sisters and I fell in love. The story is simple, yet within this simplicity, it holds so much depth and love.
A beat behind - and that’s OK with me
You can ask anyone, but I’m almost never on time. In my defense, I’m not tragically late — just chronically late. Approximately 5 to 10 minutes late, to be exact. It’s practically a personality trait at this point. For instance, I couldn’t decide on a college for the life of me. I didn’t pick my major until the last day of my second year. I’m consistently a little late, in terms of both big events and little commitments.
I am not a sorority girl - so I thought
I am a stubborn person, and pretty much everyone knows that about me. Yeah, yeah, I know it is not necessarily a good thing to be known for, but it is one of my defining characteristics. Oh well. In high school, I was this way too. I swore I would never go to this university. Rich, snobby, preppy, lots of people from Northern Virginia. Nope, nope, nope. Not for me. I also swore that, unlike my sister, I was NOT a sorority girl.
My finals week began with knee surgery
I tore my ACL and a small portion of my meniscus at a club volleyball tournament in September. I immediately knew something was wrong, but I was not in the excruciating pain and anguish that many describe detailing their own ACL horror stories. My experience was actually pretty lame — all I felt was a simple pop and then unsteadiness when I put pressure on the affected leg.
Ask me how many times I’ve been told I should be a lawyer
I first realized that I was strong-willed when my mom simply couldn’t stand how argumentative I was. She would give up trying to convince me to change my stance by saying, “You should just be a lawyer.” And throughout my life, I have received that advice over and over again from adults who chuckle hearing me argue or try to convince people of my personal beliefs.
Personality tests are either my best friend or my mortal enemy
I’m sure that everyone, at one point or another, has gotten distracted, wandered onto Facebook and taken a Buzzfeed quiz that tells you what part of burrito you are or what your favorite vegetable says about your future. My favorite one I’ve taken was a where I ended up getting the dutiful, sarcastic maid, Dorota. These Buzzfeed quizzes don’t tell you much about yourself though — they are just fun to pass the time. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator — now that is serious mind-reading.
How I became interested in rocks
I’m sure everyone has been asked what their parents do, or at least what they studied in college. It’s a pretty normal question, and some people have really cool answers — my mom could be considered one of the those people. She studied electrical engineering at a time when women in STEM majors were not very popular and now works for the Central Intelligence Agency. I could disclose what she does, but keeping it a secret makes her look that much more mysterious.
What to do when you realize you don’t go to Hogwarts
I am sure many of us have been waiting, waiting since we were 11 years old, to read that one line: “We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.” Well, we all know that never happened to any of us. Or else we wouldn’t be here. Harry Potter and his friends would all write each other all summer, excited to finally return to their communal home — ready to take on new Charms courses and challenging Quidditch matches.
I cube my food and I am proud of it
So, I am known for having this weird tendency that some have associated with being rodent-like or raccoon-esque. Paints a good picture, yeah? It isn’t that weird once I elaborate, I’m telling you. Basically, with food that is malleable enough to be molded, I create cubes out of it before I eat it. Yes, I am two years old and still play with my food. For whatever reason, I got into this habit and have just never let it go. Panera Bread for instance. Really good bread — everyone can agree on that.
'Figure it out as it goes' is an okay life motto, right?
There I was, sitting in 1515, next to a full bookshelf and in a finely crafted wood chair. I looked out of the window while listening to indie-folk music, feeling like that cool-and-quirky booklover everyone secretly aspires to be. I should’ve been sipping out of a coffee mug while wearing glasses — really would’ve finished the hipster look. In reality, I’m sure I was simply tapping my pen out of frustration, gazing out the window to avoid looking at the repeated red X’s from my WebAssign.
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