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Awkward Moments Every Highlander Has Experienced

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UC Riverside chapter.

Being home for the summer caused me to realize something I had hoped to stuff in the back of my mind. No, not that I was stuck in this podunk town for an entire summer, friendless, boyfriendless and broke…I already knew that. I was forced to realize two weeks into my “vacation” that those awkward moments I experience all too often are what spark my ideas for my articles. While I knew that 99% of my articles are based on actual events, I didn’t realize how dependent I was on my chaotic life in Riverside to come up with a half decent article. Since I’m stuck in this jail cell of a room watching Netflix all day (okay it’s by choice, spring quarter drained me of any will to live!), I don’t have much going on to say the least. With the lack of exciting stories to turn into articles I did what anyone would do, I began to troll online. Next thing I know I’m Facebook stalking myself!! Yes, that can happen, don’t judge me! Being stranded in Santa Cruz County for an entire summer has led me to miss some of those embarrassing moments I had on campus. So without further ado, the awkward moments every Highlander has/will experience before graduation.

  • Being escorted my Campus Safety Escort Service…before the sun goes down….even after telling them repeatedly you don’t need an escort, especially because you just want to get on your bike.
  • Photo bombing a tour group. Strangely it’s almost always a group of Asians in business suits. I always want to ask them what exactly they’re doing on our campus. Next time! 

  • Hitting someone with your bike, most often by the Bell Tower during lunchtime when everyone and their mother is on campus. Extra points if you do it in front of a tour group of mean high school students.
  • Almost getting run over by those damn long boarders. And then cursing like a sailor when they don’t even bother to ask if you’re okay.
  • Being asked to move to another cubicle because someone doesn’t understand the concept of marking their spot.
  • Running out of free prints at Watkins…3 pages into your paper printing.
  • Having to tell the employees at El Sol (back before they changed their name) they messed up your order, again. And proceeding to wishing and hoping they don’t spit in your tortilla.
  • That cute guy who sits behind you pokes your shoulder….to say your ponytail is too high for him to see the board (sadly a very true story).

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  • Your hall mate spilling a nearly full cup of apple juice in the dining hall. While they run to get help an employee comes to clean up, seeing you at the scene of the crime and assuming you did it (true story).
  • Being a bit too excited about getting mail.
  • Yelling for someone to hold the door in the dorm hallway…they don’t. Jerk.
  • Having class in the psych building on a rainy day and walking into class looking like a wet cat. Excuse the horrible picture, it just perfectly explains how I feel with wet hair in public.

  • Shower sex. No, not the type of awkwardness when your boyfriend sees you looking like a wet dog. I’m talking about you taking a shower and the person in the stall next to yours is having the shower sex…loudly. Extra awkward points if you can figure out who it is by the giggles/moans. 
  • Always being late to the first day of any class located in Bourns. Hate that building! 
  • Throwing a mini tantrum because your desk was designed for someone the size of a toddler.
  • Giving everyone a quick lap dance before finally reaching your seat in UNLH.
  • Showing up to class in Physics 2000 a few minutes late, and of course all the open seats are in the first 3 rows. Don’t mind me, I just love to make an entrance.
  • Trying to avoid any and all eye contact with anyone holding a clipboard near the Bell Tower. Do. Not. Look. Up.
  • Being the first person in discussion section. To make small talk or to not make small talk with the TA.?
  • Stepping into an elevator only to find out that it’s on it’s way to the fourth floor, and you’re kind of on your way to the basement. Or pretty much anytime you’re on an elevator. (If you understand the picture leave a comment, I’ll use my detective skills to find you on Facebook and we can be BFFs!)

  • Being excited to see you have a new email but they’re all students trying to sell their textbooks.
  • Not paying attention while riding the elevator and instead of pushing open door you set off the alarm. Proceed to run for your life. (Also a true story. Someone give me my own show already! No one from UCPD reads my articles right?)
  • Being locked out of your dorm. While in a towel. In the middle of the day. ‘Nuff said.

This fall quarter will be my third year here at UC Riverside, and don’t you worry, you can count on me to have plenty more awkward moments. Raise your hand if your shoes has ever flown off your foot, traveled 10 feet and landed in front of a group of really cute guys. Anyone? Just me, okay. If you can only relate to half of these you are incredibly lucky and I hate you. Just kidding, I love anyone who has the strength to make it to the end of my too long articles.  

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Rubi Mancilla

UC Riverside

Rubi Mancilla is a fourth year studying Psychology and Women's Studies at UC Riverside. She decided to double major because at the time it seemed like she was getting two degrees for the price of one, the ultimate sale! She writes about relationships, how to spend a Friday night at home, being a confused twenty-something and never having enough money in her bank account. Her column 'Midweek Study Break' is published every Wednesday but you can read more of her work in her new project, When Life Gives You Rubi. Until Disney decides to make a movie about how hard it is to be a recent (single) college graduate, we can try to figure out this whole being a grown up thing together.   
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Nicole Martinez

UC Riverside

Nicole is a senior at UC Riverside where she is majoring in Media and Culture studies. She co-founded the Her Campus UC Riverside chapter her sophomore year in college. She loves to spend her free time watching The Mindy Project, Girls, Pretty Little Liars, and other shows with leading ladies. She also dabbles on tumblr, instagram (obviwearetheladies), and twitter. Mindy Kailing and Shoshanna are her spirit animals and in the near future she hopes to achieve elite status on Yelp, pursue a career in Public Relations and ultimately conquer the world.