L.A.T.E.

Life. After. Ten. Everyday.

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I’m a full-time college student, part-time overthinker, and unofficial spokesperson for 2 a.m. existential crises. L.A.T.E. is my digital notebook where I jot down the random thoughts, life lessons, and caffeine-fueled ramblings that hit when I should be sleeping. If you’ve ever written a paper at the last minute or questioned your entire major over microwaved ramen, you’ll feel right at home.

  • The Gym Chronicles: Where Confidence Meets Confusion

    Going to the gym in college is a strange, slightly humbling ritual. You hype yourself up all day—telling yourself this is the day you finally stick to your workout plan. You throw on your “athletic” fit (a mix of old track shorts, a random club t-shirt, and sneakers that have seen better days), toss your earbuds in, and head to the rec center feeling semi-motivated, semi-scared. The walk to the gym is oddly confident. You feel productive just being in motion. But the second you swipe in and step past the turnstile, it hits: gym intimidation is real.

    There’s always at least three people who look like they’ve been training for American Ninja Warrior since birth. You see someone doing pull-ups with a weighted vest, another sprinting 12mph on the treadmill like they’re late for a plane, and then there’s you—trying to remember whether it’s leg day or if you’re just here to do three sets of pretending you know what you’re doing. The dumbbells are heavy, the machines are confusing, and the mirrors? Oh, the mirrors are ruthless. No one talks about how gyms have the worst lighting for mental health.

    Still, there’s a weird beauty in the chaos. Maybe you start off slow—spending 10 minutes on the stair climber pretending you’re hiking out of your responsibilities. Maybe you awkwardly Google “how to use lat pulldown” mid-set. But slowly, day by day, you build a routine. The gym becomes less about looking a certain way and more about feeling like you have some control over your life. Even if the only thing you’re controlling is how many songs you can squeeze into a 30-minute session.

    Some days you’ll hit a personal record. Other days you’ll leave early and call it “active recovery.” But you keep showing up. You learn to laugh at the awkward moments—like when you trip on the rowing machine or drop your water bottle mid-set and it rolls dramatically across the entire floor. Because that’s part of it. Growth doesn’t always look pretty. Sometimes it looks like sweat, confusion, and a playlist you won’t admit to anyone.

    At the end of the day, college gym life isn’t about being a fitness influencer. It’s about taking care of yourself in the most chaotic, student-budget-friendly way possible. And hey—if you make it out of there with endorphins, sore legs, and a semi-functional walk back home? That’s a win.

  • Why I’ll Never Take an 8AM Class Again (Unless It Comes With Free Therapy)

    Freshman-year me really thought I was built different. I looked at the course schedule, saw that wide-open 8AM option, and thought, “I did this all through high school. I’ll be fine.” Spoiler alert: I was not fine. I was humbled in every possible way.

    The first week wasn’t terrible. I set five alarms. I laid out my clothes the night before. I even made a cup of coffee and sat in the front row like I had my life together. But by week two, the mask started slipping. Alarms became background noise. My outfit became whatever was closest and least wrinkled. And the coffee? It turned into the only thing keeping my eyelids from fully closing mid-lecture.

    By the time midterms rolled around, I wasn’t attending my 8AM — I was surviving it. I’d roll out of bed 12 minutes before class, throw on a hoodie, and zombie-walk to the lecture hall, praying I wouldn’t be cold-called on a reading I definitely didn’t do. I wasn’t retaining information. I was just trying to stay vertical.

    And here’s the thing: 8AM classes aren’t just early — they’re wrong. They go against everything the college ecosystem is built around. Late-night study sessions, club meetings, last-minute assignments, and conversations that spiral from jokes to existential crises at 2AM — none of that mixes well with a 7AM wake-up. Waking up that early feels like being yanked out of another universe. No amount of caffeine fixes that.

    I used to think people who avoided early classes were just unmotivated. Now I know the truth: they were visionaries. They were wise. They were protecting their peace. I look at them now the same way I look at someone who remembered to bring a charger, snacks, and a water bottle — with admiration and a little jealousy.

    So shoutout to the few who are still voluntarily doing the 8AM hustle. You’ve got more willpower than I do. But I’ll be over here, sipping a late-morning coffee, in a class I’m actually awake for, wondering why I ever signed up for that chaos in the first place.

    Thanks for reading! Like the post. or don’t. up to you 🙂

  • My Freshman Roommate Was Straight Outta a Sitcom (But Not the Funny Kind)

    Freshman year is already chaotic—new school, new people, new classes. But throw in a nightmare roommate and suddenly you’re living in a Netflix drama with no skip button.

    Mine? Let’s just say privacy was not in their vocabulary. I’d walk in to find them using my AirPods, sitting on my bed, wearing my hoodie—without asking. At first, I tried to be chill. “Maybe they’re just not used to sharing a space,” I told myself. But when your $30 shampoo mysteriously vanishes for the third time and you’re waking up to TikTok drafts being filmed at 2 a.m., the chill fades fast.

    I learned the hard way: roommate horror stories are real, and no, you’re not being dramatic.

    But here’s the thing—I also learned how to set boundaries, speak up for myself, and eventually file that glorious room change request. It wasn’t easy, and honestly, it messed with my mental health for a while. But I made it out. And I swear, having your own space after that hits like a reward from the universe.

    Lesson of the story: sometimes your freshman roommate will teach you more about yourself than your professors do. Just make sure you survive the semester first.

  • “Group Projects: The Silent Killer of My GPA”

    You know that moment in class when the professor cheerfully says, “And for this assignment, you’ll be working in groups!”—and your soul leaves your body?

    Yeah. Same.

    Here’s the thing about college group projects: they aren’t really group projects. They’re solo missions with extra steps. Like a heist movie where half the crew doesn’t show up, one guy disappears mid-semester, and you end up writing 90% of the script alone.

    A quick breakdown of every group project ever:

    • The Ghost: Shows up for the first meeting. Disappears forever.
    • The Overachiever: Says, “We should meet three times a week and start a shared Google Calendar.”
    • The Slacker With Vibes: Contributes nothing. Gets the same grade. Somehow you still like them.
    • You: Managing the project, proofreading every slide at 3AM, and trying not to scream into your pillow.

    Lessons I’ve learned:

    • Google Docs will always crash right before the deadline.
    • Someone will say, “Wait, this is due tonight?”
    • You will absolutely re-learn the entire class trying to fix someone else’s part.
    • “Shared responsibility” means you are now responsible for everyone.

    And yet… somehow, we survive. Barely.

    So next time you’re put in a group, remember this: it’s not about fairness, or collaboration, or even learning. It’s about character development. (And carrying the team like it’s a deadlift PR.)

    Stay strong out there.

  • “The 2AM Delusions That Made Perfect Sense (Until Morning)”

    Ever had a brilliant idea at 2AM? No, seriously — a “change my life” kind of revelation?

    Yeah. Me too.

    Here’s a short list of things I was absolutely convinced would happen the next day:

    • Start waking up at 5AM to “be more productive”
    • Delete all social media for mental clarity (lasted 6 hours)
    • Text my ex “for closure” (thankfully, didn’t follow through)
    • Budget every dollar I spend (after spending $28 on Taco Bell)
    • Learn a new language “just for fun”
    • Read an entire book in one sitting (still stuck on page 23)
    • Create a new workout routine based on TikTok bodyweight exercises
    • Call my mom and apologize for being distant (okay, that one I did do)

    By the time the sun comes up, all those epiphanies just turn into vague memories sandwiched between dreams and delusion.

    Why do we romanticize the version of ourselves we might become… but only at night?

    Maybe it’s because 2AM is when reality softens — when the world is quiet enough to lie to ourselves a little. And honestly? I don’t hate it. Those late-night ideas may never make it past the group chat, but they remind me I still want to try.

    So here’s to the unhinged 2AM goals that die by 9AM — and the few that actually stick.

  • Summer Jobs I Swore I’d Never Do Again (But Probably Will)

    There’s something uniquely humbling about summer jobs as a college student. You come home thinking you’ll relax, maybe catch up on sleep, maybe find yourself — and then bam, you’re wearing a visor at 8AM getting yelled at by a 9-year-old named Brayden because his snowball is “too melty.”

    Here’s a breakdown of the summer gigs I’ve done, the trauma they’ve caused, and why I’ll still probably do them again next summer. Because rent doesn’t pay itself.

    1. The Food Service Job That Gave Me War Flashbacks

    Job: Smoothie bar, sandwich shop, or anything involving ice, fruit, and unreasonable customers.

    What I learned:

    • No matter how happy someone looks when they order, they will turn into a demon if you forget their “extra shot of mango immunity blend.”
    • Closing shifts are spiritual journeys. You will mop while crying to Harry Styles.

    Why I said never again:

    • My soul left my body the 14th time someone asked, “Is the açaí bowl gluten-free?”
    • Permanent smoothie hand.

    Why I’ll probably go back:

    • Free snacks and discounted Red Bulls. Enough said.
    • Coworker trauma bonding = lifelong friendships.

    2. Door-to-Door Sales (AKA My Villain Origin Story)

    Job: Selling pest control, energy plans, or some “free” upgrade that mysteriously costs $300.

    What I learned:

    • Nothing humbles you faster than having a door slammed in your face mid-pitch.
    • Old people will listen. Everyone else will call you a scammer.

    Why I said never again:

    • I once got chased by a goose and a loose Chihuahua on the same day.
    • Sunburn and rejection build character, but not fast enough.

    Why I might go back:

    • Commission checks hit different when you’re broke.
    • Great practice for becoming either a public speaker or a cult leader.

    3. Babysitting/Childcare: The Emotional Rollercoaster

    Job: Watching kids for neighbors, camps, or cousins who “totally won’t be that bad.”

    What I learned:

    • Children have no filter. You will be told you look old, tired, and weird.
    • “Let’s play hide and seek” = they hide, and you panic for 20 minutes thinking you lost someone else’s child.

    Why I said never again:

    • Play-Doh in my Air Force 1s.
    • Babysat twins who only communicated in high-pitched screams.

    Why I’ll consider it again:

    • Easy cash.
    • Parents will pay you more if you say you’re CPR certified (even if you got it from a 2017 YouTube video).

    4. DoorDash/UberEats: Fast Cash, Faster Stress

    Job: Delivery driving, aka “how to learn every apartment complex gate code in town.”

    What I learned:

    • People tip well when it’s raining, which is great unless you have anxiety and a leaky sunroof.
    • Every fast food order somehow smells better when it’s not for you.

    Why I said never again:

    • Gas prices.
    • GPS betrayal and awkward handoffs.

    Why I’m definitely doing it again:

    • Flexible hours and no boss watching you breathe.
    • The soundtrack of your summer is whatever you blast between orders.

    Final Thoughts:

    Every summer I promise myself I’ll find something “chill,” like a remote internship or some kind of passive income miracle. And every summer, I end up clocking in somewhere that makes me question all my life choices. But honestly? I kind of love it. There’s something weirdly satisfying about the chaos of summer jobs — the coworkers, the late shifts, the random stories you’ll tell forever.

    So here’s to the jobs we swore we’d never do again… until we open the Indeed app in a financial panic and apply anyway.

  • Beauty in Struggle (first few weeks of college)

    So you’re curious what a random person online has to say about their first few weeks of college. Great! Honored to be the post you read. Whether you are a college grad, current student, rising student, or decided college wasn’t for you, welcome. Here is my story.

    It’s 2am and your first week into college. You’re in your dorm room, which smells like a mix of ramen and desperation. You’re wondering how you will find the perfect friends, but most importantly you’re wondering how you went from being an A student to….failing the syllabus quiz.

    You are overwhelmed with freedom, which ultimately becomes your downfall. You don’t technically need to go to class because teachers rarely take attendance. Your laundry starts to pile up because you are too lazy to walk to the closest laundry machine–or they are all being used! Your only meal today was a granola bar from orientation week. Oh and most wonderfully, no one teaches you how to actually study–you eventually get the hang of it but man does it suck.

    You probably miss home, but not in a very movie-style dramatic way. You just miss your dog and home-cooked meals. You miss familiarity. You miss sitting at your favorite spot during lunch. You definitely miss your shower, which does not require shower shoes! Oh and you definitely miss NOT having to introduce yourself 30 times a day and saying what you are majoring in–even though that will probably change.

    Socially, you are overwhelmed. Making friends is like dating. There might as well be an app to make friends–wait, I think there is one…! Anyways, that’s not the point. You overthink every “wanna get lunch?” and every unanswered text message sent. You always smile through the awkward ice breakers while secretly telling yourself that you hope someone, ANYONE, clicks with you.

    And yet–somehow–it all works out.

    Somewhere in the depths of hell, you find yourself. You find that one study spot. You discover what food is actually edible at the dining hall. You bond with someone over how terrible your professor is or how useless your advisor can be. You learn how to manage time and to study. You start to live that “college life” everyone wants to have.

    Or you don’t and this is totally unrelated to your life but you read along because you appreciate a good story!

    Leave a comment, or don’t. Whatever works for you.

  • Party Person?

    Have you ever wanted to go out so badly but your brain didn’t allow you to? Keep reading. Remember that one time you just wanted to go out. All your friends were going out and were super excited about the night. Except you. But you wanted to go. But you physically and mentally couldn’t. yeah that sucks and if it happens to you more than often, I am so sorry. To the readers who kept on reading this post and have NOT experienced this, let me explain to the best of my ability. Imagine you are in a room with transparent walls. You can clearly see what is out there. In fact, you see your friends, but they don’t see you. Your friends are smiling and having a great time, while you are in bed, gazing at them from afar. You want to go up to them, so you slowly walk closer. You approach the transparent walls but cannot escape. you bang and bang on them, but no help arrives. You are trapped in a cube, with no escape.

    let me know what you think

  • Have I secured the Treasure Chest (No)

    Do you get the title? this is my third post… 1st is the worst, second is the best (not) third is the one with the treasure chest.

    Am I famous!!!?? (No)

    Okay guys this is very fun! I have received about 40 views! Not sure how views are dished out tho….like does a “view” mean they actually clicked on the post? or did they just scroll past it? Honestly does not matter because this is not for the views. This is to share relatable content.

    What would you like to see me post?

    Leave a comment because I can talk about anything!

  • College vs High School Friends

    If you read my first post, I touched base on the lack of excitement and genuineness when I hangout with my high school friends vs college friends. I am very close with my high school friends, but it just seems off. I know it is unrealistic to think the dynamic would be the same after going to college, but man….we used to be so close.

    I think we are still close, but definitely lost some points. There’s a period in the hangout–usually in the early stages–where we kind of need to warm up again. Almost like a camp fire. It takes a couple minutes before the flames really get going. OMG, that analogy was pretty good cant lie. Anyways, back on track. The obvious explanation for this is due to the lack of time spent together as we are gone for college. With the lack of in person communication and much dialed down social media use, I kind of maybe possibly rarely talked to my high school friends during college. I would think about them, don’t get me wrong. But why is it so hard to just say hi to them. I know why. It is because I always say hi in the group chat and they take like multiple hours to respond. Like cmon man. They know I need a response immediately–1 hour max. I know they are on their phones too…smh. I am obviously joking around and don’t expect a text back that quickly, but talking over the phone is NOT the same as in person communication. Which is why I believe you miss your college friends so much when you get back home for the summer. You are so used to having this social bubble at school that when it gets taken away, you’re kind of like, shit I need to reach out to the high school people. But then the high school people aren’t always free and youre like omg do they not want to see me? then you remember they are busy and have actual lives. It all just comes full circle.

    Is this relatable?

L.A.T.E.

Life. After. Ten. Everyday.

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