Taking the stairs

The other day I was a few minutes behind schedule leaving my house for school.  On Tuesdays and Thursdays I walk to class from the commuter lot.  I briskly walked to class, working up my heart rate and anxiety as I tried to get to class on time.  

When I got into the business building I had an internal battle going on in my mind.  Do I take the elevator to catch my breath again or do I continue to trek my way to class via the four flights of stairs?

I took the stairs.  Something inside me told me,”Don’t be lazy you can catch your breath once you get to class.” Fine.  When it’s cold outside walking to class is even worse.  Every landing of stairs is a little warmer, and all I’m trying to do at that point is cool off. 

The majority of my classes are on the fourth floor of the Business Building.  I often walk up to the second or third floor of the student center for work, too.  I don’t know how I became so anti-elevator, but I refuse to use them on a regular basis.   In fact, I have only taken the elevator in the Business Building twice.  Both times I was talking with a professor who wanted to take the elevator. 

Part of the reason I take the stairs is because I like being active and am lazy in too many other areas of my life.  The other reason is that once I get to the fourth floor I feel accomplished.  What’s funny is that sometimes I don’t realize I’m already on the fourth floor and I try to go up one more.  

I generally think people should take the stairs over the elevator if they can—especially if they only have to go to the second or third floor.  Some people actually have to take the elevator for one reason or another.  It’s not fair for the rest of us to clog up the elevators out of laziness.  

I’ve heard people talk about what a problem this is in the Ferguson Building in between classes.  I had a few classes in there and remember seeing the ridiculous lines for the elevators were and hardly ever seeing people in the stairwells past the second floor.

A lot of times the stairs turn out to be the faster of the two options too.  Not only that, but you can avoid awkward elevator conversations by taking the stairs—a go at your own pace activity.       

So I don’t know why I developed such haste for elevators but there are definitely solid reasons why the stairs win.  Taking the stairs is a selfless act that is better for you.  Why wouldn’t you take the stairs if you were capable?  Burn a few extra calories on your way to class and let those who need the elevators have them.  

Jessica Gilligan is a general business major and the managing editor for The Pine Log.