The Graduate Student's Deep Control

My first year of college was already a disaster, and then I got stuck with a roommate who was the ultimate overachiever. My college life went completely off the rails.

His name was Wen Yan. He'd ranked first in GPA at A University for six years straight, and his nickname was "Human Alarm Clock." His self-discipline was downright terrifying.

And then there was me: procrastinating on assignments, vanishing from class, and on the verge of failing finals.

At first, he just reminded me. Then he started taking action: confiscating my phone, forcing me to get up early, and dragging me to the library.

Every time I brushed him off with "I'll change tomorrow," he finally reached his breaking point.

That night, he shut the door and drew the curtains. In a voice as cold as ice, he said, "Tonight, we're going to talk about what you're really afraid of."

I thought it was a punishment. Only later did I realize that being smothered by his attempts to "manage" me was somehow the only lifeline I had.