Don’t ignore Yik Yak advice

Unfortunately, freshmen fit the stereotype of the new, clueless, and uptight infant crawling around campus all too well. As an clueless infant crawling around campus myself, I have to admit that moving to college is a change.

The whole process of adjusting to entirely new people, a shiny, unfamiliar city, and the seemingly limitless possibilities of the present and future is both exciting and terrifying.

Sure, there are journeys and guides in our minds that can help us in moments of desperation, but what could possibly help us understand the simultaneously peaceful and painful truths we need?

Fear not, fellow freshmen, for help is closer than you might think—in fact, it’s just a download away. Yik Yak is an app for college students to express their opinions, ask questions, or raise important issues on campus while keeping their identities a secret.

While many students like the app, others view it negatively. Yik Yak, like other similar apps, are frowned upon for a number of reasons, but primarily because users are anonymous.

I believe the beauty of Yik Yak comes from its anonymity.

Students at any university can hide from humiliation and ask or say whatever they want, no matter how childish or revealing their freshman status may be. Some may scoff at Yik Yak, but most people who have the app know that it’s common to laugh or find something interesting here and there.

For someone new to the scene, wouldn’t seeing crazy comments from other students ease the fear of fitting in? For a transfer student, wouldn’t it be nice to hear that people won’t judge you for walking or eating alone?

Yik Yak provides a sense of community where every student can relate to the funny aspects of life at Loyola. Like the annoyance of annoyingly loud cars on Tuesday mornings, the stomach aches caused by certain cafeteria foods, or the suggestion that “getting comfortable with your alone time in college is essential,” as one Yik Yak user put it.

Personally, I only open the app once or twice a week—but I always find myself agreeing with my peers and being charmed by the funny comments. It’s my way of keeping up with Loyola and educating myself on the insights of others.

My point is that Yik Yak, along with other apps that give users the freedom to do whatever they want, can lead to some questionable conversations, but in most cases the good outweighs the bad. Anyone who is nervous about coming to Loyola should download this fascinating app for some entertainment and advice they might otherwise never have seen.

Whether it’s for fun or random but useful advice, Yik Yak truly helps produce better students and a better overall experience at Loyola University.