#9 CONTROLLING (AND EVENTUALLY OBLITERATING) MY FIXATION ON GALS IN JEANS: Rachel M. If I ever create a social networking platform, I will make sure it doesn’t include a blocking option, because I’ve been the victim for so damn long. Despite the fact that social media was meant for people to share memories, post photos or chat with friends, it is still a façade compared to the real world. There have been many instances where I constantly messaged people, and in the blink of an eye, they block me on social media because I couldn’t tell if they were blatantly ignoring me or too busy to reply back. Whenever I’m messaging somebody and I try to act sarcastic, somebody might think I’m offending them. Taking into account that I have Asperger’s (and am in the process of obliterating that), social media has made it difficult for me to express body language. While technology has empowered users beyond their capabilities, it is still a completely different reality than the real world.

Zoom really saved the gruesome pandemic, and allowed participants to talk about cogent, logical things and act like mature adults. I was immersed with how Zoom allowed many participants to connect together, albeit virtually. This pandemic has changed the workforce and some people chose to work remotely from home. Zoom is a great social media platform, both socially and professionally. At the height of this gruesome pandemic, we were introduced to Zoom – inspired by the 3×3 grid in the opening credits of the Brady Bunch. The only three good social networking platforms are Instagram, LinkedIn and Zoom. Facebook is a complete joke, Twitter has almost gone extinct, Snapchat was meant for the younger demographic, and TikTok is basically a diet version of Vine. It’s also worth mentioning that we haven’t had a new social networking platform in a long time. Every time I scroll through my Instagram feed, I see a lot of my friends living their happy and successful lives, traveling to exotic places and maintaining that “smooth-sailing” mentality.

What was once a tool to keep in touch with old friends is now just a platform where people can block you if you over-message them or habitually comment on their posts even though you’re doing your best to demonstrate kindness. You wanna know what this pandemic made me realize? Social media is a double-edged sword. #10 REALIZING THAT SOCIAL MEDIA IS A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD: I’ve been scammed multiple times, traveled to Chicago for the first time with Colin and Bis, spent a few months seeing a therapist, attended my friend Molly’s wedding, and my uncle sadly passed away, and he’s surfing the clouds in Heaven! I have done more growing up in 2021 than I imagined, and here are the top ten growing up moments. To say that 2021 has been one colossal rollercoaster is clearly an understatement. Yes, I still would like to relocate to Dallas, because I’m in my late twenties and need to live life to the max. I still like Mookie (that’s what I’m calling her), and would like to see her and hang out with her ASAP. I got both my COVID vaccines, as well as my Booster shot, and I’m ready to play my cards right. Even though the pandemic has made me lonely, I have done a lot of growing up, and I couldn’t be happier. The coronavirus pandemic has spread faster than AIDS at a late ‘80s LA Lakers championship orgy. I was ready to start dating again, after my last love interest didn’t want to hang out with me since she rekindled the flame with her ex-boyfriend (they have most likely broken up for good, now), but my mom advised me to stay at home because it was too dangerous to get out of the house, and especially without a mask. A few days later, COVID makes its way to the Southern United States and starts running rampant. Patrick’s Day, and I was eating Shepherd’s Pie while watching The Graduate with my mom and stepdad. We have come a long way since the beginning of the pandemic, and I can remember exactly what I was doing that night. With that said, I have grown up in so many ways during this past year, and I couldn’t be happier. Joe Biden is now President, dogs can talk coherently, and I’ve done a lot of growing up. These past couple years have been tough, but I somehow survived them.

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