Jonesin’ For Java

A Talon writer reflects on his caffeine cravings.

We’ve all been in a class with that one person.

The one who always shows up late because their “alarm clock didn’t go off” or they “got stuck in traffic”. This may be true, but everyone knows the real reason — they couldn’t help but stop at Starbucks to get their Venti double caramel salted frappuchino.

I have been that person more times than I am proud of. However, my drink of choice, is not the sugary sweet mixture that some like to call “coffee.” I keep it simple with a regular cup of coffee – no cream – almost every day.

I have nothing against people who prefer a Caramel Macchiato over a traditional coffee. They are delicious, just a bit much for my liking.

Coffee is a necessary part of my day. It keeps me going and motivated.

My psychology teacher, Mr. Michael Hood, drinks coffee every day, just like me. He just seems to study it a bit more than I.

“For all I know, I could be addicted to coffee,” he told my class the other day. “I’ve just never stopped drinking it.”

Well, I wouldn’t call my coffee drinking habit an “addiction”, but I definitely notice how dysfunctional I become when I do not have it. A regular 8:00 A.M. start without coffee proves to be pretty rough for me. I’m groggy, and just can’t find that extra “umph” to be attentive in class. Give me a cup or two of coffee, though, and I become a new person — I’m ready to learn and my mood heightens. I become a student version of the 8:00 am Mr. Symkowick-Rose

The odd thing is, coffee isn’t just a drink for me anymore — it’s somewhat of a lifestyle. I know most of the seniors who drink coffee everyday. I see them walking down the hallways with their travel cup and it’s exciting. We give each other a nod almost as if to say, “what a lovely day to be drinking coffee”. Basically, we understand each other.

There’s a girl in my psychology class, Brianna Pressey (’13), who drinks coffee every day. Despite the fact that we are actually friends, Brianna and I share a common interest — one which we can speak about easily.

“[Coffee] helps me stay awake,” she told me.

Staying awake.

That seems to be what most teenagers use coffee for. Take Alex Brocchini (’13), for example. He’s a senior who says he drinks coffee because “it helps me stay awake while studying.”

I find it interesting that some students — along with myself — have resorted to drinking coffee to help with school. I guess that’s just what coffee is used for nowadays — a way to get something done. It has become my stimulant. What might I be without it? I am not sure.