What I Need

Today, each of the groups in our section tried out the exercises they created for our upcoming interview project. I volunteered to be an "interviewee" and was presented with the following task: using 10 Post-It's, label 10 things in your house that are necessities. Since we were in the classroom, not my home, I was instructed just to write the name of the item and place it on the wall. Sounds simple enough...

I am subletting a bedroom, so I really only had to think about one room, not a whole house. But once I started to think, it was difficult to come up with things that I absolutely needed. The first thing I thought of was a bed (although it's not actually mine, but I'm renting the room, so I figured it's kind of mine for now). Then I jotted down some other things: computer, glasses, cell phone, sweater, toothbrush, guitar, makeup, chocolate. Time was running out and I couldn't think of a 10th thing right away, so we decided to move on (although, now that I think of it, my credit card should have definitely made the list).

my three essential items

The next step was to narrow down to three essential items. After some deliberation, I chose, my computer, toothbrush and guitar. They each serve a different purpose in my life: the toothbrush is for health needs, and the guitar is for emotional needs, and the computer is for academic/social needs.

"Now choose one item," they told me. I thought carefully because I knew this would be the biggest indicator in the exercise of how I prioritize my life. I chose my computer, because in our technological age, I could not survive without my shiny new MacBook Pro.

my MOST essential item