You're walking around campus, maybe you just parked at the Rec and are headed to class, or need to get from Strong Hall to Frasier. Either way, your travels bring you to a cross-section, a street if you will, and you know you're going to have to get on the other side. If you're a safe adventurer, this trek will involve a crosswalk. You hesitate. Can you just start walking, or do you need to stare down the bus that's coming and hope they don't forget that you have a right of way? Fun fact students, when you are at a crosswalk in Kansas, you really do have the right away! So why hesitate? Here's 5 reasons why you should start walking confidently through crosswalks on campus.
1) You look like you know what you're doing!
Nothing is worse than being mistaken for a hesitant freshman. Okay, there's probably worse things, like being mistaken for a high schooler on a tour too afraid to cross the street. So act like you own this place and start trekking across those white lines! No one is going to stop you, and you look like you know what you're doing on campus (because you do). You run this place, people stop for you, and you stop for no one.
2) The adrenaline rush is for real.
The first few times you decide to take the crosswalk by storm it's terrifying. But the rush of adrenaline you get from not hesitating while a bus approaches the crosswalk keeps you awake for class better than any rock-chalk latte. Plus nothing says "thrill" more than walking through campus with the mindset that you might get hit today.
3) You save everyone time.
When you know that you're going to strut across that crosswalk you're saving everyone time instead of when you're hesitating and stalling around. Avoid that awkward stare-down and stoppy go-y between the car and yourself, we all know you're going to go first. You might even become the fearless leader of a flock that is crossing, all because of your confidence.
4) Now you might actually get to class on time.
Walking confidently through campus allows you to take all that time you spent hesitating around the street and allows you to get to class on time, if not earlier! 10 minutes is a solid chunk of time between classes, but that time can be shaved away every time you pause to contemplate crossing.
5) It makes you live life to the fullest because you don't know if you might get hit by a car.
This sounds extreme and terrifying, sorry, but think about it! Live life to the fullest because you simply don't know what fate has in store for you today. Jump across the white lines, eat that extra piece of cake, take the risk that is confidently crossing the street.
**Disclaimer: Be smart about this. Follow to the crosswalk signs at busy intersections, and if you doubt someone's ability to stop for you, back up from the crosswalk. Don't teeter on the edge of the sidewalk and crosswalk. Okay, go forth and prosper.
