Apparently I'm an Alpha-Female

Those of you who know me or have just kept up with my posts know that I support strong women. Whether it's Wonder Woman, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Debbie the serial killer from "The Addams Family" movie, or the mom from the song "Harper Valley PTA" by Jeannie C. Riley, I completely respect women who are able to support themselves, stand up for themselves as well as others, and show a strong sense of character no matter the situation.
I like to fancy myself as a strong woman. I know that I have flaws and don't always do the right thing, but I would like to think that I can take care of myself (and others) in any given circumstance. However, even having this vision of myself as a strong female, I never thought of myself as an Alpha Female...

One day during my senior year of college, I was walking from a class back to my residence hall when I hear someone call my name. Now, I went to a medium-sized university, where I knew about 80% of the student population, so it wasn't unusual for someone to yell at me from across campus. I hear my name again, but this time it is closer. I look around and see a few people that I recognize, but none that are yelling for me. I turn around and continue walking, thinking that this mysterious person was yelling for a different Katelyn, when this young man walks up to me and says, "Hi, Katelyn."

Earlier I mentioned that I knew about 80% of the students on campus. This guy was one of the few that I didn't know. I had never seen him before, I didn't know his name, I couldn't even place him as being a friend of a friend of an acquaintance. But he definitely knew who I was. Shocked that he knew me and I had no idea who he was, I stopped in my tracks and listened to what he had to say.

Guy: How was your Senior Seminar class?
Katelyn: It was fine...How did you know I was just in Senior Seminar?
Guy: I know all about you. I actually just called you over to let you know that I am writing a paper over you for my Freshman Psychology class. I figured that since I'm writing about you, the decent thing to do would be to let you know I'm writing about you.
Katelyn: Umm...what?
Guy: Yeah, I'm writing about how you are an Alpha Female. I see you all over campus, and how people just respond to you. You always have a positive attitude, but you don't take crap from anyone. You really are a take-charge kind of woman, so I'm writing my paper over you.
Katelyn: I'm not sure....I don't....How do you know....Huh...?
Guy: Okay, bye!

And with that, he left. With a smile on his face, he bounced away, never once looking back. And I just stood there stunned for a moment. It took me a while to process what this guy had said: a guy that I had never met knew about me, my schedule, and my personality, and he was going to write a paper about me for a class. Thinking it was a joke, I looked around to see if friends were hiding behind trees laughing because of the amazing prank they pulled on me. I was hoping that they were just trying to give  Ashton Kutcher and the creators of  Punk'd a run for their money. Unfortunately, there was no one around.

Flipping out a little, I go tell my roommate about what just happened. She agrees that it was a strange encounter, but says that I probably know the guy and don't remember. I nod in agreement hoping that it will put my mind at ease, all the while knowing that I have never met this guy.

A few weeks pass and I don't hear from him. I get so wrapped up in finishing my Thesis and other classwork that I honestly forget about the entire thing. One day, however, this young man is standing in front of me as I walk onto my front porch. (Let me tell you, I felt like this guy was part of a real-life pop-up book and I was kind of terrified.) Once again shocked, I stood there listening to what he had to say; granted, I was thinking of all my escape routes and doing a mental inventory of all the weapons I had with me in case things got bad, but for all he could tell I was just standing there listening to him.

Guy: Hey Katelyn. I just wanted to let you know that I finished my paper about you.
Katelyn: Okay...
Guy: I got an A on it, in case you were wondering. My professor said that you were an interesting case; definitely an Alpha Female. He had to ask me if I embellished on the details of a few of the anecdotal stories of yours that I included because they are so outrageous. But he was more impressed when I told him that no embellishments were needed. That was all you.
Katelyn: ...what stories..?
Guy: Oh it doesn't matter now. But I need to be headed towards my next class. See you around.
Katelyn: ...wait! How do I know you?!
Guy: You don't. Bye!

And once again, this mysterious man was gone. I haven't seen him around campus since.

I'm not sure if he wanted to become one of my outrageous stories, or if he seriously thought I was that interesting, or what was going on with him. But I would absolutely love to read what Guy wrote about me. Also, I'd like to know which stories he used and how he even found out about them; if he thought I was such an interesting case, why didn't he talk to me himself, instead of creepily watching me from around campus?
I can't decide if I'm more flattered that he thought I was an Alpha Female and wanted to write about me, or more creeped out because of the way he chose to go about it. Either way, I feel like this just adds to my arsenal of "Only Katelyn" stories. Who else has someone pop-up out of nowhere to inform them that the other person is writing a character analysis (basically) over them for a college-level Psych class? If there is anyone out there with the same issue, I would love to hear about it.
As always, I can't wait to hear what you have to say!

I'm Kind of a Tech-Not

As many of my readers have mentioned, it has been a while since I have posted anything new. I want to apologize for that, but at the same time let you know that it isn't that I wasn't writing because I was bored with writing. I wasn't able to write or post because my computer died. Completely. I couldn't run any programs, it wouldn't connect to the internet, and the screen blacked out. Basically, my computer usage was severely limited. Since my computer went kaput, I have been doing a little research trying to figure out the best computer to replace it. Believe it or not, I don't use the computer for many things. I talk to friends on Facebook, check my emails, listen to music, and write my blog. That's about it. I don't play computer video games (League of Legends, World of Warcraft, anything like that), I don't randomly search the internet to see what I can find, I don't use fancy programs that require a lot of storage. I just need the basics.

So here is the start of my rant....

Why is it so difficult to get the basics when it comes to technology? I have no need for a super-computer. I wouldn't have the first idea about how to use it; however, despite explaining this to sales associates, and even tech-savvy friends, they all still try to convince me that I need to upgrade from what I was using previously. I say "Nay-Nay!" If what I had performed every job that I needed it to, why would I want to pay extra money for all the bells and whistles that I will never use? That makes absolutely no sense to me.
"But Katelyn, it has all these cool features, and you can download apps, and watch movies and stuff."
I literally couldn't care less about all those things. I think technology is over-used anyway, (I prefer in-person contact), so why would I buy a device that sucks me deeper into the Technological World and pulls me away from real-life contact...? This goes for everything from computers, to cell phones, m-pods or i-p3s, tablets, and all the other types of technology that I don't know about.

I didn't get a cell phone until I moved into college. But even then, I started off with a pre-pay service using TracFone. My phone will make calls, and send/receive text messages. That's all I need it to do. It's been five years, and I'm still using TracFone. Friends ask why I don't upgrade to a "real cell phone carrier" because they are so much better. Once again, I don't understand why I should get a phone with more on it to distract me and pay $80 a month or more when I can pay the same $80 and buy minutes that will last me an entire year. I don't want to be able to surf the web on my phone, I don't need games on my phone. I have a busy life, so those things would just get in my way. My dinky little phone has done everything I need it to, and works when other people's smart phones have shut down on them.

I realize that I have probably wasted my breath on this rant, living in the Age of Technology and all, but I really don't see the point of upgrading just to upgrade. Don't get me wrong, technology is helpful and has its place, but it shouldn't consume your entire life. I believe we should unplug and get outside to play with our kids; sit down and write a hand-written to a friend instead of sending a chain-email; use social media to coordinate when you are meeting with friends, but don't make it the only place that you "see" them.

So, does anyone else feel the same way about technology, or am I the only person left who hasn't been sucked into the world of Candy Crush, Twitter, and SnapChat? Do you automatically upgrade your phone every six months because a newer version of your phone was just released? Is there a room in your house dedicated to all things electronic? Am I stuck in the Stone Ages, or do you think I have a point? I can't wait to hear what you have to say.