One day, I was sitting in my friend's room hanging out and his roommate leaves and says, "I'm going off the grid. I'll see you later." I had no idea what that phrase meant. My first thought: did he have to complete some type of secret mission? My friend told me that "going off the grid" meant turning your phone off, leaving it in your room and going on an adventure. I was shocked that in today's technology-obsessed society, someone could leave without bringing his phone. It was like a breathe of fresh air, knowing that there were actually people who didn't depend on their phone 24/7.

I feel so disconnected with my peers of this generation. To avoid "awkward" situations, we immediately look down on our phones. When there's nothing better to do, we scroll on our phones for hours on end, instead of sparking conversations. Technology has become an escape from human interaction. My biggest pet peeve is when you're talking to someone and they're on their phone the whole time, completely ignoring what you're saying. We are tied to our phones like dogs on leashes. Can you imagine going without your phone for a whole day? A whole hour? A whole minute? Chained by the shackles of social media, we fall victim to loss: loss of true experiences, loss of true feelings, loss of the true meaning of life. Believe it or not, there's more to life than the perfect Insta filter or Twitter favorites. How many events have we watched on our phone screens, instead of seeing it through our own two eyes? We stop to take a Snapchat video, or make a good tweet, instead of just enjoying the memories we are making.

Back in the day before cellphones were created, people found ways to occupy themselves and keep in contact with one another. They didn't let a bunch of plastic, steal and glass control their every move. So, I challenge you to go off the grid every once in awhile. Next time you hang out with your friends, purposely leave your phone in your room. Dedicate every second, every ounce of energy, and all your might to the people you love spending time with. Open your eyes and look at the world, instead of gluing them to a screen. Go outside, enjoy the beautiful weather, admire the color of the leaves, and observe the familiar faces of your college campus. When your phone dies don't rush to put it on the charger. You might discover good company or the love of your life, you might just find happiness in solidarity, or you might just stumble upon sweet serendipity.