Salt Lake Community College isn’t exactly the most personal or friendly place. After all, everyone has their own life, own friends and family, it’s hard to get to know people. Of course, it’s still a shock when a fellow student thinks it is okay to steal from you.
With the semester coming to a close, everything seems chaotic. Instead of final exams, I had mostly projects and presentations, all of which I saved on my jump drive. One very crazy, hassle of a morning, I went to the library early to print off my work. In the frame of five minutes, traveling a total distance of no more than 50 feet, I left my jump drive somewhere. Where, I don’t know, because within that minuscule time frame and short distance, someone spotted my unattended Kingston and snatched it.
Though, fortunately, the project I was working on was saved on my home computer, everything else, most of which I can’t remember, is gone forever.
When I consulted the librarian aides, they unanimously told me stolen jump drives are very, very common. It happens all the time. But, what really disturbs and confuses them is why.
Why fellow students would steal another’s hard work and homework is baffling to those who witness such low, despicable acts.
Jump drives, depending on the size, range anywhere from $12 to $25. I bought mine at a grocery store for under $20. The money I paid for it doesn’t concern me. What concerns me is that someone so rudely and heartlessly would rob me of all my hard work and time and effort. That’s the true loss.
So, you don’t need to become cynical or jaded. Even though it sucks majorly, I still believe most students aren’t as cruel as the person who snatched my work up the second I’d dropped it. However, you never know. We work in an impersonal environment and, obviously, some people are desperate.
For those taking summer classes, moving on to other schools or returning to SLCC, beware. Always check that you have your jump drive, save your work in multiple places and not just on your computer. Also, have your jump drive on a cord, a string, on your keys, whatever. If you want to save yourself a lot of work and frustration, keep your work safe and remember that students are still strangers. Even someone bogged down with work, just like you, can get desperate and swipe your work right from under your nose.