Coleman's Personal Essays

I do not cry often. In fact, I barely seem to cry at all, and I’m not that happy about it. When I was much younger, I was much more emotional. I had tantrums plenty of times, and I cried a lot. Looking back, it feels like I cried whenever anything big or small went wrong. Of course, I matured. I got older and learned to control my emotions. In doing so, it seems that I’ve pretty much stopped crying in total. At first thought, not being able to cry doesn’t seem all too bad. Maybe I just have amazing emotional control, and I’m not phased by anything. But I don’t see it that way. Honestly, I wish I cried more often. I don’t have a lack of reason to cry. Though I’m generally happy, I definitely have moments where it feels like I should cry. Especially at this time, I’ve got a lot going on. The end of the semester is nearing, which means I have to balance basketball, college essays and applications, and school projects and finals. This seems like a perfect sob story, but there’s no sobbing....

 I am habitually curious, so of course, I eavesdrop. I never mean to intrude on private space, my eyes are just prone to wandering. If my parents are on their phones next to me, I will always take a peek. My mom once told me that it’s the German in me. Indeed, Germany’s social rule on staring is far from America’s rules. In America, I’d say that people in public tend to not focus on others. If you look at any one person for too long, you’ve become creepy. German norms are the opposite. Everyone on the subway will be looking at one another, not in the eyes, but at their clothes, their bags, and whatever else can be studied at a glance. Staring is not rude at all. Staring at, and perhaps judging, others is not the taboo it is in America. It's true that I’ll also look at people in public, but not as much as my mom. Her favorite part of an airport is the different people. While I’m searching the carousel for my bags, she’s searching through the bystanders. If she finds someone inte...