I am a perpetually tardy person. This surprises a lot of people since I’m generally type A, have a photographic memory for dates and times, and walk fast. And I agree I should be on time. I always plan on leaving at the appropriate time. It’s just I suddenly realize, at 3:20 PM when I should be departing to go to my next destination, that oh, I need to drink a glass of water first; then grab a stick of gum; dang it, I forgot my keys; should I pack a protein bar in my bag? Suddenly it’s 3:26 PM and I’m six minutes late. Whoops.

Senior year of college, my roommate and I were in the same biology class. It met at 9:05 AM. We lived 15 minutes by foot from the classroom. I think only the first day of class did my roommate and I walk over together. After that, my roommate tried to leave at 8:35 AM everyday (the classroom opened at 8:50 AM), and no, I wasn’t ready, “but I’ll catch up with you.”

Fast-forward to 9:10 AM. I slipped in the back of the packed lecture hall. Thankfully, I was Facebook friends with the professor so I never got penalized for my tardiness.