I start my day on my phone. It is my electronic sidekick. My alarm goes off and I reach out to stop the buzzing. After I swipe to deactivate the alarm, I type in my password and check my notifications. I open Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, and obviously my email to accept the fact that there is no message from my professor canceling class.

What I see on that screen within the first two minutes of being awake can make or break my day. The more notifications I have, the happier I am. It just makes sense - people thought of me when they sent that message. They thought I would find their Snapchat funny or amusing. I crossed someone’s mind. But what am I supposed to think when I press that home button and all that pops up on the screen is the time, date, and my background picture? There are so many reasons why I would not have any messages or notifications. I went to bed late and checked all of those notifications before going to sleep. Most normal people went to bed and have not had time to get up and start their social media life for the day. That is not what goes through my head though. I start asking why no one thought of me that night. This trivial matter should mean nothing, but it honestly could affect my attitude on the rest of the day.

I use my phone throughout the day. I sit in class and can’t help but have it next to me. I wouldn’t dare pick it up and start using it in front of my professor, but I need to know when and who is trying to contact me throughout the day. I’m in class for a couple hours at a time. I’m pretty sure people can survive if I do not respond instantaneously. Having my phone next to me keeps me sane during class. It is my electronic sidekick.

I hold it in my hand as I walk around campus. I am not typically that person who walks around with their head down texting during their entire walk to and from class, but I hold that baby in my hand. I might miss the vibration if it is in my bag. Again I probably would not respond as I walk, but I would at least like to know if and when I get a notification.

Why does this over-priced piece of plastic control my life? Why have I let it have this much power over me? Technology really is consuming our lives and it is scary to think how far cell phones have come since our very first TracFone.

I got my first cell phone when I was a junior in high school. I did not have cell phone service at my house but my parents wanted me to have something when I went on school field trips or had away games for softball. That little flip phone did nothing compared to my current smartphone. I used it to call my parents and that was it; I did not even have a texting plan. It is crazy to think how much I use my iPhone today and how much of a necessity I consider it to be.

After using my phone all day, I sometimes have to charge it during the evening so I have enough power to last me until I actually fall asleep. It is my distraction at night. It distracts me from doing my homework. It distracts me from interacting with my roommate. It distracts me from everything else I have going on in this crazy brain of mine. It is my relaxant. It is my getaway. It’s my electronic sidekick. It is the first thing I look at in the morning and the last thing I look at before I go to sleep. I end my day on my phone.