You know what they say: a picture is worth a thousand words. I took this slogan to heart when I decided to embark on the journey of documenting laptop stickers around campus to see what they really say about the owner. I know they also say don’t judge a book by its cover, but please, let this be our secret…
Laptop #1:
The molecule sticker describes the owner of this laptop perfectly: intellectual, funny, knows that this molecule is of caffeine, and is a huge coffee drinker. It is complemented by constellations, a colorful moon, and an astronaut holding planets made to look like balloons (this person must really love outer space!). The owner is from Connecticut (we always need to represent our home on there somewhere) and loves to go to the beach and drink bubble tea. She, like her classmates, is well-versed in vine culture (if you haven’t seen the avocado one, please do, it is my favorite!) and loves dogs. I’ll have to say that the dancing skeleton, little dinosaurs, and beluga whale are some of the best stickers, and are far too hilarious to miss. The tiny succulents warm my heart because they are so cute and so delicately sprinkled throughout the collage. This laptop is fun, colorful, and just the right amount of intellectual. The owner shows a lot of school spirit and stays true to herself, which is something I love about her, and something that comes through just by looking at her stickers.
Laptop #2:
This laptop embodies art, creativity, and imagination. The sticker near the bottom right corner is from the Logan Center, the multidisciplinary home for art on campus. This sticker (designed by the owner herself!), provides a window into the creativity and innovation of UChicago students. You’ll also notice the sticker in which the characters of American Gothic are sporting UChicago and Northwestern sweaters (they may even look better this way, if I do say so myself) to promote a free student night at the Art Institute of Chicago. The UChicago Arts Pass gives all students free admission to over 70 cultural institutions, including the Art Institute of Chicago, which is one of the largest and most well-regarded art museums in the United States. The maroon sticker represents the Oriental Institute, a museum and research center on campus specializing in Near Eastern studies and archaeology. Overall, this laptop is thought-provoking and captivating. It reiterates what is capable outside of the classroom and shows that our students have deep passions that are demonstrated in many ways.
Laptop #3:
For starters, this laptop is one of my favorites. The Harry Potter stickers, the positive proton joke, and the Encourage Mint provide just the right amount of intellectual humor. I personally love the sprinkling of dogs doing yoga (doga?) and the Elf sticker (the one and only truly acceptable wintertime movie). And avo-cardio still gets me every time (avocados really guac my world). There is an ocean theme throughout that gives it a warm and fuzzy feel. The blues and greens are relaxing tones that immediately transport me to a beach. Overall, this laptop is happy, bright, and a ton of fun. There is so much to look at, so much to love, and this one really makes me smile. I mean, just look at how cute that little whale is!
Laptop #4
There is a lot going on in this one! I have to say that my personal favorite is the eclair sticker because it has great humor and, of course, chocolate. Or the goat yoga sticker (can someone explain to me what that even is?). The owner clearly has a sense of humor and is a member of Off-Off Campus, a well-known improv comedy troupe at UChicago. She loves pugs (pugs not drugs!) and can’t get enough of The Office. She probably drinks 8 full bottles of water per day, as indicated by the mostly covered up “hydration station” sticker and Nalgene (I bet hers is covered in stickers as well for some overflow seating). It seems like she is in a quandary over whether she prefers Vans or Chacos, as both are prominently displayed in the middle of the frame. And if you look really, really closely, you’ll see a Cuties clementines’ sticker.This is a lively, radiant laptop that has so many great moments and highlights worth mentioning!
And finally, here is my own laptop:
I’d like to think of myself as a bright and happy person, which I hope comes through in the overall color scheme and playful vibe of each individual sticker. I am a member of the women’s soccer team here at UChicago, a huge Drake fan, and believe that there is truly nothing that a little Ben & Jerry’s Half Baked ice cream can’t fix. I’m a sucker for a good Disney movie and get genuinely excited to watch the Golden State Warriors or the Chicago Cubs play on TV. I like to poke fun at my friends (maybe my specialty?), which is surely evident in the gold star and unicorn stickers. And how could I not put something about coffee on there?
A laptop can say a lot about someone without them having to say anything. My stickers are little pieces of who I am all mixed in to one -- my sense of humor, my positive outlook on life, my likes and dislikes, my love for a good dad joke. I so appreciate when people come up to me and tell me they love my stickers. It makes last summer’s 3 hour search on Redbubble.com all seem worth it…