... and I am addicted to Facebook

By Tatiana Sanchez

In the public estimation, I am seemingly the average college kid. I party and hang out with friends. I attend my classes and interact with professors. I pull all-nighters in the library and early-bird mornings at the gym. I spend time with my family on the weekends. While it seems that I can function as any "normal" person on a day-to-day basis, I am, regrettably, a Facebook addict. I know what you're thinking: who isn't a Facebook addict, right?

According to Facebook's blog, 250 million people are now using Facebook. Facebook, for the good or the bad, has undoubtedly become a part of everyday life.

And over the past four years I have sat back and watched it invade every single aspect of mine.

Facebook for breakfast:

I wake up in the morning with one thing in mind: I have to check my Facebook. As I turn on my computer and hurriedly sign onto the Cisco Clean Access Agent, I get excited thinking of all the possible Facebook notifications that may have come my way as I slept, assuring me that I am indeed, loved.

When I see that tiny red square shining brightly as I enter my home page, I feel like a kid on Christmas Day. Notifications are like "big kid" presents: the more you get, the merrier you are. My morning Facebook ritual is not complete without the typical commenting, status updating and yes, I'll admit, stalking.

When in class:

Sitting through class as a senior is painful enough, but even more painful is the unrelenting urge to check my Facebook. What if someone commented on my status or one of my newly posted pictures? What if the love of my life wrote on my wall? I can't miss a beat. I have yet to jump on the "Facebook mobile" bandwagon, but I have put up a valiant effort to remain updated while away from my computer. "Facebook texts" have now become a part of my textually-active lifestyle.

I can honestly say that these simple little texts brighten up my day. I get excited and happy as I receive these text-friendly notifications in class, almost as if I were a giddy little schoolgirl again.

Facebook as a study buddy:

Dealing with my Facebook addiction when it comes time to do homework is like trying to take a midterm while hung over -- it just doesn't work. Because when it comes time to sit down at my computer and type up an essay or a reading response, I simply fail. I trick myself into thinking I have control over my addiction by saying to myself, "Okay, I'll go on Facebook for 15 minutes and then start my homework."

But that doesn't work. What instead ends up happening is I spend an hour on Facebook as a blank Word document with a blinking cursor awaits me in the background. It's as if I'm in a trance-I stare blankly at the screen until my eyes burn and my wrist hurts from clicking so much.

When I snap out of my trance I say, "Tatiana, do your homework!" But this attempt to discipline myself is also in vain. The cycle repeats itself until I'm sitting in my room at midnight, wondering where the night went and why I'm still sitting at my computer with only two sentences of my essay written.

Goodnight Facebook:

As the day winds down and I get ready for bed, I never turn off my computer without doing the routine late night Facebook stalking, which depending on how juicy my feed looks, may go on for up to an hour.

And when I finally make it to my bed, I bring my iPod Touch with me so that I can sign on in bed, just in case I missed anything since I last signed off.

In looking back to my freshman year, I can't help but smile at the fact that I was skeptical of becoming a part of the Facebook frenzy.

But today I can honestly say that I love Facebook. I love the little red notifications, the picture and status updates and the weekly event invitations from The Hut. I love the crisp little popping noise Facebook chat makes when someone IM's me. I love the wall posts, the Social Interviews and the pokes.

They say the first step toward curing an addiction is admitting you have a problem. Today may be a perfect day to change, but for me, it's just another day in the life of a Facebook addict.

Tatiana Sanchez is a senior English major and opinion editor for The Santa Clara.