Just a bunch of college kids working together

I had a moment today that brought me right back to small town vibes. It was when I was supposed to be studying in the library with one of my coworkers and classmates. We did study for a bit, but then one of us made a random comment and we started talking about a million different things; after that, the studying was over for the day. 

She first gossipped about a high school classmate of hers who is getting married, and then talked about her boyfriend, who goes to school in Mankato and is not quite enjoying it. Me being from Waseca, I know a lot of people going to Mankato, so I was able to add some personal input. 

Those conversations about her friend’s wedding and her boyfriend gradually turned the conversations to the topic of our own possible marriages and whether or not we would take the last name of our husband.

Naturally, I have been under the impression my entire life that I would take the name of my husband. Recently however, I have thought that I quite enjoy my last name and parting with it might be more difficult than I thought. So I would just tack on his last name to the end of mine, having two last names. Plus, hoping to be a well-known published author/journalist, I don’t want to switch up my last name on people and my readers. She, also being a journalist, agreed with me on these viewpoints.

Does anyone remember having crushes in middle or high school and writing your name with the last name of your crush? Well, I am guilty of doing it even now with the guy I have been talking to and have a crush on. The problem is, he has a hyphenated last name because his parents are divorced. So I can’t necessarily have three last names, can I? My study partner and I spent some time discussing it and whether or not it rolled off the tongue. It doesn’t, but I guess that’s not really a problem for me to worry about, so the conversation ended with me smiling like a high school freshman after experimentally writing my fake married name in a notebook. 

We then turned to work drama and gossip and who had dated whom in the office–turns out my friend knew much more about that than I did, so I came across a few surprises. Then again, it is just a bunch of college kids working together. Our discussion made me curious whether there is a lot of similar work drama in other workplaces or offices. Do people stereotype and place coworkers into categories? Who is the office “skank”? Is there someone who drinks too much? Is one person so focused on work that he or she just never seems to have a personality? 

But does it matter? I am not in the position to say, nor to ask. Just some mental stimulation for you all. –

And that is the story and thought processes behind me not getting my work done tonight. Do not fret for me, it was just studying for a midterm that is happening next week, so really, I am just a great student being proactive. 

My Determination: “Do you know how hard it is to cook for this family? Not very, but I can't handle much." - Francine, American Dad