Certain societal manners have been pounded into our brains since we were children learning to adapt to this crazy, little thing called life such as saying please and thank you, respecting your elders, or shaking hands. But, often brushed past, is one of the most important, yet overlooked, a manner of punctuality, or for those extremely foreign to the concept-- the ability to be on time.

Many of readers will scroll past this article, but those who actually possess this rare ability to be punctual will vigorously click the link to read and sympathize with others who become immensely infuriated when a peer simply cannot arrive at a destination at an agreed upon time.

Punctuality is an act of integrity, and most importantly a sign of respect. This act extends to actions such as paying bills, meeting friends, arriving at job interviews, showing up to your esteemed professor's class, etc. The abuse of this manner to those who deem it trivial allow an opportunity for those around them to lower respect for these individuals. When designated times are agreed upon between two parties it is expected that each side arrives at said destination at said time, usually with the reasoning behind the agreement. When one party is forced to sit and ponder where the other party is and why they are so, so tardy, they lose the time out of their own personal lives or their work days, the time has stolen away from them forever that could be spent doing things actually worth something rather than waiting.

In a culture such as our own, punctuality is an incredibly strict value that is slowly diminishing through lack of translation through generations. Tardy parents are raising even tardier children. Punctuality allows one to be identified as a dependable person, something that is easily diminished. It's a clear sign of the respect you have for others, therefore, when you arrive late you not only diminish the respect that person had for you, but it is a clear sign that you did not respect the other person as much as they did.

And most importantly, regularly practicing being late will hurt your professional career. Showing up to job interviews and business meetings are extremely professional interactions and require the utmost respect from both parties. Most employers will not give a late interviewee a second chance at an interview. What I had been told growing up is, "if you're not early, you're late." Therefore I use that tactic with all meetings throughout my life so that I never lose an ounce of respect from another person.

From someone who does not believe in "fashionably late" to those who can't seem to be in the right place at the right time: learn to read a damn watch.