February 14, 2013
This past Wednesday evening comedian Michael Ian Black visited Hamilton’s campus. His performance was slated for 9 p.m.—long after I had eater dinner and well into my usual study time. At 8 p.m. I sat at a desk in KJ drawing graphs for a macroeconomics assignment, completely unaware of Black's impending performance. I then received an email from one of my very good friends.
The subject line included just one word, written boldly in all-caps: “COMEDY.” The message explained that there was a comedian performing and I should go. I considered: I have an economics problem set to finish, an essay to write and 50 pages to read—of course I will go!
It was the right decision. For the next hour I sat in Wellin Hall while Black performed his stand-up routine. At times, he went off script and improvised with a few members of the audience. On the eve of Valentine’s Day, there were plenty of awkward tensions Black could play on; he went so far as to move two audience members closer together, in hopes of sparking some new romance.
I laughed almost straight through the hour and was the better for it. Though I had a few pangs of guilt for all the work I was putting off, the levity of the performance made it difficult to truly worry. I exited Wellin feeling significantly better than when I walked in; I was all the more eager to jump into my books, tackle my workload.
I was still chuckling after my schoolwork was done; I fell asleep smiling and woke up enthused—not just because of the comedian, but because I allowed myself this indulgence. I simply walked away from my work and spent an hour appealing to my sense of humor. I embraced the freedom of my situation and was the better for it.
Majors: Government and Economics (intended)
Activities: Cross Country, Debate Society
Favorite Pastimes: Late-night Diner breakfast, reading the paper in KJ through the morning, wandering the Root Glen and sipping a latte from Cafe Opus.
Hometown: Newfane, Vt.
High School: Concord Academy
