All Nonfiction
- Bullying
- Books
- Academic
- Author Interviews
- Celebrity interviews
- College Articles
- College Essays
- Educator of the Year
- Heroes
- Interviews
- Memoir
- Personal Experience
- Sports
- Travel & Culture
All Opinions
- Bullying
- Current Events / Politics
- Discrimination
- Drugs / Alcohol / Smoking
- Entertainment / Celebrities
- Environment
- Love / Relationships
- Movies / Music / TV
- Pop Culture / Trends
- School / College
- Social Issues / Civics
- Spirituality / Religion
- Sports / Hobbies
All Hot Topics
- Bullying
- Community Service
- Environment
- Health
- Letters to the Editor
- Pride & Prejudice
- What Matters
- Back
Summer Guide
- Program Links
- Program Reviews
- Back
College Guide
- College Links
- College Reviews
- College Essays
- College Articles
- Back
Hygiene
Dear Unhygienic Public Gum Chewers,
Sitting in class, gazing at the clock and hoping for time to fly by. Barely being able to keep my head up or my body somewhat straight to make it seem as though I was paying attention, I leaned back in my chair with total relaxation. Ready to make it through the day and get through the period, I was ready to act tentative. With no energy left in me, I grab below my desk to pull in my chair and sit straight.
Ew. What. Is. That. My forefingers grabbed something and it did not feel like the underneath of a table. It was a strange consistency of soft and moldable, but sticky. Of course as soon my finger felt that unfamiliar substance, it immediately moved, but that moment of concern was etched into my mind. After processing it for a little longer than a millisecond, I knew what it was and I wish I didn’t. It was the remnant of the chewable pink rubber doused in saliva of some sloppy kids mouth.
But hey, I’m not judging the gum chewing, I’m a gum chewing sucker, i love it. But never, have I ever (nor will I ever) stick my nasty germ filled fruity flavored rubber under a desk as it awaits it’s next victim. My fingers could easily have gotten stuck to the table underneath, with no consent of my fingers to be touched or stuck to. Forced to face the filth from students felt unfair. Next time, keep the remnants of your gum elsewhere, somewhere I, and others, are not subjected to feeling it without a warning.
Sincerely,
The girl with sticky fingers
Similar Articles
JOIN THE DISCUSSION
This article has 0 comments.
This piece comes from a place of angst and annoyance. It just so happens to be one of my pet peeves when people leave gum beneath a chair or a desk. True story.