A CARDBOARD SOUL

A Cardboard Soul BY GAVIN KELTY ‘25

An inanimate object that best embodies me is a pizza box because we both absorb “information,” enjoy meeting new people, and like to travel . These similarities may not be the most unique traits for a normal person, but I connect with pizza boxes on a different level . Let me explain . First, we both absorb “information,” which for a pizza box means the grease from the pizza, and for me means actual information and learning . Just think: a pristine cardboard box sitting there all innocent, but its brain is forced to absorb this unhealthy information (grease) . I feel this same thing happens to me, where I put myself in a bad situations and am forced to be unproductive or take in information that could harm me more than help me learn . Next, we enjoy meeting new people and situations . Pizza boxes are delivered to anyone that wants pizza, which can mean an ordinary civilian, a billionaire with a mansion, a cultural hero, or even someone working in a top-secret location . This means pizza boxes are exposed to literally every kind of person, at every corner of the world . These connections can lead to friendships, or in this case, customers buying more pizza . I relate to this because I try as much as possible to expose myself to new people in new areas . Learning about new cultures and people keeps my brain fresh and cures boredom . Finally, we both love to travel . Similar to my last point, seeing new places and getting new views on the world is extremely interesting to me . A pizza box has no choice but to travel, and as a result, it obtains more and more patrons to their store . I believe that if I force myself to travel and leave my comfort zone, I will also make more friends and connect with people of different cultures that have different views on the world .

Given these points, I can confidently conclude that absorbing information, meeting new people, and a love for travel are three solid points that connect my personality to that of an ordinary pizza box .