We’ve all been there — so devoted to our studies that we valiantly head to the silent level of the library, prepared to grind out that last-minute paper or never-ending reading in peace and quiet, away from the world of conversation, ringing phones and crowds of people.
Quiet levels can seem like the perfect place to focus on school work without the distraction of noise or activity and independent of the presence of others. I see them as an ideal escape from the stress that constantly consumes me, which stretches from homework to involvements on Grounds to calling my mom back in a timely manner. When I am alone in the quiet, I can effectively be away from all these worries — even if only for a couple hours, and even if only in a metaphorical sense.
As such, my first semester of college was spent doing work on these silent levels as much as possible, where I attempted to cope with the change that was a new place, new people and figuring out how to best get done my never-ending work. But, the more time I spent in quiet floors, the more I questioned whether I was really doing my work in the best environment.
No one can deny that the fewer the distractions, the easier it is to concentrate on the task at hand. But it’s possible to be unproductive, even in the quietest of places. I found my mind constantly wandering and thoughts building up that couldn’t be spoken aloud. Even more so, I found myself hyper-aware of everything happening around me.
I couldn’t walk into a room without facing the universal dilemma of how to unzip my backpack, flip a textbook page or even breathe without being louder than the acceptable silence level. There are places like gov docs in Alderman, where the occasional whisper is acceptable, and Clem 1, where the intermittent cough doesn’t turn heads. But there is also the Harry Potter reading room, where I almost give myself an anxiety attack every time I attempt to pull out one of those big oak chairs, God forbid have my phone ding or set a textbook too loudly on the desk.
I found myself purchasing potato chips from Greenberry’s, only to sit there in pain and agony for what felt like hours, attempting to silently open the bag. In moments like these, I realized I was heading to quiet levels for reasons that were not my own and I was not deriving happiness from doing so. As time went on and I found myself headed to the library more and more with friends, I found so much more value in talking and interacting with others than sitting in solitude.
More so, I didn’t notice my productivity decline when surrounded by others and with a backdrop of noise. Putting in my headphones and tuning everything out — whether at a coffee shop, a dining hall or the library — allowed me to focus when I needed to, but also left me unconcerned and unguarded if I felt the need to talk and interact with others. Often times, college can be somewhat isolating, and although I still head to quiet levels right before tests or to edit papers, I believe the hype behind Clem 1 all-nighters and Harry Potter room homework glorify what is not actually the best method of regularly getting work done.
There is so much value in talking through things with others, or just having them there when it is time to take a break from whatever stressful thing you happen to be working on. There is also value in finding a place to study that best suits you — whether it be silent or loud.
Cameron Balish is a Life Columnist for The Cavalier Daily. She can be reached at life@cavalierdaily.com.
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