It’s no secret that most Oles are overachievers in every sense of the word. I have a relatively small friend group here on the Hill, and all of us — myself very much included — have crazy schedules due to multiple jobs, extracurriculars, music ensembles, and more, so it’s hard to find times that work for us to go get meals together. Because of this, I often go to Stav alone, and I must confess that it’s kind of the best thing ever.
When I eat alone, I can sit wherever I want. I don’t have to sit at a big, crowded table because it’s the only thing that’ll accommodate my group, nor do I have to walk around the whole cafeteria looking for the best place to seat myself and my two best friends. I can fit just about anywhere when I eat by myself, which is ideally a small, two-person table, away from all of the chaos. And if I want a better chance of getting one of these little tables, I just go to Stav during less busy times, like right after it opens for lunch or dinner. I then get the table I want, and it’s not as loud. A win-win situation.
Plus, eating by myself is just relaxing. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely adore my friends and spending time with them, but I’m the type of person who needs time alone to recharge — and a nice meal by myself is the perfect way to do that. It’s just me and the food that’ll give me the energy for the rest of the day, with no distractions. That said, if the atmosphere of the dining hall is especially overwhelming, I’ll just put on my headphones and play some loud-yet-relaxing music. You can do that when you’re alone. It’s awesome.
Maybe people assume I’m a total loser with no friends when they see me eating alone in the cafeteria at the same time every day, and maybe they’re not even completely wrong in those assumptions, but I seriously do enjoy getting meals on my own most days. It serves as a much-needed break from the stress of work and classes. For a half-hour or so every day, I can focus on refueling myself without a need to worry about anyone else, and I really don’t care what that may lead other people to think about me.
