FSU, or any college for that matter, is like a microcosm of the real world.
Upwards of 40,000 angsty, hormonal, young people crammed together on campus would seem like a recipe for disaster, but, in Tallahassee, it makes for a rather inventive and altogether unforgettable combination. You only need to step outside your door to find endless sources of entertainment in Florida’s capital, and not in the way you may think.
I’ve always loved to people-watch. Maybe it stems from my natural introversion or my tendency to observe rather than participate in social settings. Either way, it’s a great way to pass the time. Some of the most interesting things I’ve seen on campus have been during that awkward block of time when I wait in front of my class’s building before going inside (shoutout to the Bellamy courtyard), and I’m confident that some of my fellow students would agree with me.
Everyone is well aware of the stereotypical “theme park couple.” I see that, and I raise you: English major couple. I mean, I’m not that uptight about PDA, but the last thing I want to see after schlepping it up Mount Diffenbaugh is two people getting a little too intimate in front of the Williams Building sign (gross).
I just wanted to enjoy my pre-Romantic Literature TikTok time in peace. Now, I feel like I’m about to lose my lunch.
During one of my other stints in pre-class purgatory, I learned about the existence of speaker backpacks. Unwillingly, I might add, after having just walked across Landis Green while being nagged by SGA representatives.
I’d just finished my veritable running of the gauntlet and pulled out my phone to open a Gravity Falls TikTok I’d just been sent (it was the vibe at the time) when my ears were bombarded with what was quite literally the worst music I’d ever heard. Honestly, even calling it “music” may have been a bit of a stretch. It sounded more like someone dropped an accordion down a set of stairs.
Obviously, I had to see the source of this awful noise so that I could better mentally berate it. Of course, it was a pledge. I mean, I assume it was a pledge, but by the time he was within eyesight, my nose hairs were practically singed off from the odor of some Dennis Feinstein-adjacent cologne (IYKYK).
This guy was strutting down the main walkway between HCB Classroom Building and the Student Union with all the confidence in the world. During Market Wednesday, no less. I’ll say, seeing the people who were tabling’s collective are we all hearing this? face did make the experience slightly worth it. We all know and love “Pledge Tok,” but there really is something to be said about experiencing it live.
If any fellow amateur people-watchers happen to attend FSU and are reading this article, know that the prime location to see the widest array of the student population in their natural habitats is Landis Green on Friday and Saturday evenings. Pro-tip: grab an outdoor blanket, dinner from the campus Chick-fil-A, and eat on the lawn! Talk about dinner and a show.
My go-to people-watching stories often originate from these picnics. Seeing no less than 10 different groups of hot dogs on the way to their senior bar crawl was truly a novel experience. I’m not even sure they all knew each other. I honestly think 10 different groups of people happened to choose hot dogs as their crawl costume. At least, that’s what I’m choosing to believe. I also once saw a guy get shot down by a girl in real time… that was awkward. For him, not me.
All in all, people-watching at FSU is one of my favorite pastimes, and I hope some of my enthusiasm for the subject has been transferred to you. Whether you’re lurking in the recesses between Williams and Diffenbaugh or lounging in the Bellamy courtyard, there’s always something interesting happening on campus if you look for it.
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