Confessions of a chronically late student, and why it’s okay
We all have those friends, we love them, but we put up with their version of time. “Leaving now” directly translates to “I’ve still got to pick a top, pee and do lip liner, then I’ll hurriedly be out the door”. What is this magic capability that some of us have to actually stick to the time we verbally decree? It seems to be becoming a rarity. I myself have to admit to being a chronically late individual. People have been known to tell me the wrong time so that my faffing ends up finishing at the correct time, unbeknownst to me, who is stressed and panicking. I do think a study should be done to understand the genetic transmission of this, because I think I’ve always been this way and my mum is unfortunately the same. The late leading the late.
The internet is full of trends around this: One by one, how late people show up to group plans, boyfriends tricking their partner, and subsequently are two hours early. Clearly, this disease is widespread and provides a funny resource for jokes.
I think what’s at the crux of lateness is people pleasing, so much so that they train their mind that if they rush, they might be able to stick to it, as opposed to sending that text and saying, “Can we actually make it this time?” There is also a level of self-delusion in the scheduling to think that you’re able to get ready in only five minutes. Do we really want to bring these people back down to the real world and ruin their hopeful, delusional and people-pleasing tendencies? The late runners are also living at 2 times the speed that everyone else is operating. The stress of being late and attempting to decrease the time of lateness places these individuals constantly in a rush for no reason. Their added stress doesn’t need to become everyone else’s. Let’s just let them live. Don’t wait outside the gym class until they arrive, don’t stand in the rain worrying about the 15-minute grace period for restaurants, and don’t miss out on the ideal lecture seat spot. It’s on them to withstand any humiliation of trying to find you, because I know it’s a form of torture to wait and watch the time to then allow people to think you’re late. It goes back to the saying, ‘it’s better to ask for forgiveness than permission’. Apologising for being late has got to be one of the top 10 frequently used phrases. Maybe people’s accommodating of late people is what facilitates them more?
Overall, I think it’s important to understand that these people can’t be blamed due to their genuine belief that the time they allocate is enough and that each time they will not be late. Despite them proving themselves wrong every time. I think it adds a fun variety to life and individualism within our Type A and B culture. Especially in university, this is our last point before the responsibilities of the world and a career hit us, and that includes turning up on time.
