Labeled.

Here at the CSPA Journalism Workshop, us students are labeled. Just as cattle are branded, we are bound by the powers of the lanyard.

When I first received the suffocating neck rope, I thought it was a cool-looking, pretty plain black lanyard. With “CSPA Journalism Workshop” printed on it in large white letters, the lanyard seemed to serve as a nice souvenir for my time spent here.

However, as the days passed by, the lanyard didn’t seem so innocent and inviting anymore.

For the past week, and for the week to come, the lanyard rules all.

It not only carries your identity, but also your food supply and shelter.

Without all of the three crucial parts that the lanyard holds together: nametag, meal card, and room key, you are powerless. You have no reason to stay at the workshop.

You are done for. 

When college students, or just random bystanders, look at you, they judge. Thousands of thoughts run through their minds. Why is she wearing that thing around her neck? What does it mean? Is she part of a secret society or something?

Well, those are probably not the thoughts that stream their minds. But I think they are.

But just for the record, the lanyard has no secret connotation to it. Its just the most controlling, tyrant-like inanimate object in the history of the world. No big deal.