With just a handful of days left until graduation, I’ve been thinking a lot about what I’m going to miss about LACES. Of course, there are the friends I hope I don’t lose touch with, and great teachers who I know I won’t forget. But there are little things I’ll miss too. And one little thing in particular stood out– the bathroom graffiti. So as a parting gift, I’ve compiled a few of my favorites, in no particular order.
“Be respectful/ Get respect from others/ Be kind and helpful”
If someone gave this advice to my face, I’d probably roll my eyes, because, let’s face it, it’s a little cliché. But for some reason, when it comes to me from a bathroom stall door, it feels somehow profound– and I take it to heart every time. If you’ve ever encountered me and I’ve seemed unusually respectful, kind, or helpful, it’s probably because I’d recently used the first stall of the lower green building bathroom.
“Live Laugh Love!!!”
I’ve encountered the phrase “live laugh love” many times, but it’s the three exclamation points that make this one truly unique. They give it an element of anger, making it feel less like some trite words of wisdom and more like an emphatic demand. I think the threatening tone only makes me more determined to live, laugh, and love.
“B***h”
This one, written in huge Sharpie letters, is beautiful in its simplicity, and yet mysterious at the same time. Whenever I see it, I’m left to wonder: Am I being called a b***h? Was there a specific person it was meant to be targeted toward? Or are they simply informing the audience of the word’s existence? The ambiguity makes me appreciate it even more.
“You’re so amazing” “Ty, U2”
This is probably the most heartwarming one on the list. I love to imagine the student who felt so personally influenced by the compliment that they were compelled to thank the author. There’s nothing like students supporting students.
“Pee like you mean it”
I’m not entirely sure how one would pee as if they do or do not mean it, but I take this one to mean that every small task should be done with intentionality and purpose. It’s good advice, delivered via the toilet paper dispenser. After seeing this one, not only do I at- tempt to pee like I mean it, I wash my hands like I mean it, I exit the bathroom like I mean it, and I walk back to class like I mean it.
“Don’t kill yourself your so sexy” (sic)
Simple, specific and straight to the point. This one requires no further explanation.
