Early Morning Shift

So here I am sitting at the front desk of my residence hall working the 4am-8am shift. One word-Hilarious. Actually no, two words-ridiculously hilarious. I guess usually I'm in bed by the time all the unbelievably inebriated residents make their way back into their 12' x 10' "home" after hitting up the bars. I can't say I've never done the same thing, but man I sure hope I haven't ever looked like some of the people I saw tonight. It made me think a little deeper into how alcohol determines the first impression some people have on me. I meet plenty of new people whenever I go out, but do they really meet me? Or do they just meet some girl with messed up hair and makeup beginning to wear off from the blistery cold wind causing my eyes to water. I sure hope not. But yes, I'm a college student, I have my nights I suppose, but wow, is that how people see me? I'm a christian, a daughter, a sister, a friend, a student, a musician, a writer, and I hope a genuinely unique individual. When I go out to "have fun," do people see me for who I really am? I'm beginning to think not after observing the post drama of a night downtown from behind the front desk of a predominantly first-year residence hall. One girl in particular came up to me crying because her roommate had chain locked the door and was passed out on the futon, therefore unable to wake up and open the door. She had no idea what to do. She had makeup smeared under her eyes, her hair was a mess from walking a about a mile from the bars in the steady rain. Not to mention, she was not appropriately dressed for the Iowa winter weather (along with most every other girl). What's the point in walking downtown in a short dress in heels? Ever heard of frostbite ladies? Anyways, so I'm sitting behind the desk looking at her with tears engulfing her eyes wondering what I could possibly do to help this drunk, yet somehow so innocent girl find a place to crash for the little bit of the night that was actually left. I had no ideas. I began to wonder if she had any idea what she looked like at that moment. To be quite honest, she looked like someone had thrown her on a roller coaster against her will and made her repeat the upside down loop, which on the first round is quite exhilarating, but once you've had your fix, you've had your fix. This young woman had been thrown on that loop one too many times from the looks of it. I'm sure she's a great person, I don't judge her for her current appearance. But damn honey, who are you and what have you done with yourself? As I sat there trying to assure her something would work out if she calmed down and thought about a better way to assess the situation. I began to picture myself in her shoes. First of all, hopefully I would not be that intoxicated at 7 o'clock in the morning. But more importantly would I even be thinking while in that state of mind that I am a daughter, a sister, a friend, a musician, a writer, etc? Would the things that are so dear to my heart still be dear to my heart in that moment in time? Yes ultimately they would, but would I be portraying that importance to those who did not know me? It looks as though I may have a new goal on my hands...