Vibe Check (\vīb\•\chek\): A process by which a group or individual obtains a subjective assessment of the mental and emotional state of another person, place or thing.

What is a Columbia vibe check –

If not a regulation on our internal clocks?

A method of slowing us down,

Humbling ourselves,

Before we get too overwhelmed by the

Fast-paced living and overburdening work

That will one day squash us as if we are mere cockroaches

In the dorm bathroom that is the Columbia world.

It’s feeling the readiness to take on the day

When you walk out the door of the John Jay Hall

With your pace aligned to the beat of your music –

Only to have it all destroyed by a small brick,

Slightly out of place,

Sticking out like the head of a small meerkat ready to scrounge for food.

Your foot meets the corner of the brick,

And you stumble just enough to throw you off your rhythm.

That is a Columbia vibe check.

Or maybe it’s happened elsewhere –

When you walk into Ferris,

Greeted by the many smiles of the staff and the

Lively music creating an atmosphere of lightheartedness and fun.

And even though the lines are long,

You have your heart and mind set on the delicious, warm omelet,

The perfect meal to energize you for the day –

Only to have it taken away from you in a heartbeat

By someone who had the same desire

But half the attention span to notice the order of people who asked for omelets.

That is a Columbia vibe check.

Or maybe you forgot you don’t have enough hands

For all the small plates of good Hewitt food.

Or maybe you unconsciously walked onto the Hamilton elevators

And realized too late that you have been forcefully slowed down.

Or maybe all the washing machines are either full or out of order

Exactly on the day you need four to wash all your laundry.

Or maybe it’s getting to take the class you were most excited about,

Only to have it assigned to be taught at the Teacher’s College.

These are all perfectly valid Columbia vibe checks.

But with all the up’s and down’s

We Columbia students face every day,

At least we won’t experience the biggest vibe check of all –

Being forced to go to NYU.

That’s a vibe check and a half.

Check Your Vibes Before You Wreck Your Vibes via Pexels