I believe that we all have an annoying kid (A.K.). Some of us get really unlucky and have more than one. Don’t pretend like you don’t know who I’m talking about. It’s the girl in the second row of your biology class who continually asks the teacher questions that lead class discussion off into the world of who-gives-a-crap-please-teach-me-what-will-be-on-the-test. It’s the guy in your English class who has an opinion on everything and forces it upon the entire class, whether you want to hear it or not.

For some, it’s the girl who always seems to be wearing clothing not quite right, an easy distraction for a fashion merchandising major’s brain to rant and rave about all class period. For others, it’s the boy who always sprawls himself into his seat, with his arms, legs and book bag taking up every aisle way within five feet of him, causing every girl in heels to mutter “pig” as they play leap frog over his massive limbs. If this particular brand of A.K. is at the top of his game, he was also spitting tobacco juice into a water bottle while watching his classmates squeeze, push and army crawl their way through his maze of a body. Even a sarcastic, “Excuse me, don’t let me get in your way there,” does not stop this sprightly fellow from emanating his A.K. potential.

Don’t forget the A.K. that continually walks around discussing how involved she is. This is the girl that manipulates conversations for the sole purpose of announcing to all that she is a full-time student with a 4.0, an Ashbrook scholar, in a sorority, works for Applebee’s, sings in a choir, writes for the newspaper, works on CAB, works for Tech Crew, is a tour guide for AU, rescues animals, tutors underprivileged students, is on student senate, is on faculty senate, manages IT, teaches biology, is president of Ashland University, consults the president of the United States, etc.

So here is the question: Do annoying kids have annoying kids?

The answer has to be yes. They probably find it annoying that you never talk in class. It’s probably a huge distraction to them that you keep your legs and arms tucked into your own space bubble. They most likely hate that you say an appropriate amount of words in your answer instead of talking the subject to death.

Everyone has to have someone to dislike or, at the very least, roll their eyes at. If you say you don’t, you are either lying or not human. It doesn’t matter how open-minded you are or how hard you try to understand someone: If they annoy you, they annoy you and that is okay.

I believe that we all have an A.K. I also believe that as reluctant as we are to have our very own A.K., it’s an important part of our lives. Your A.K. will help expand your tolerance and broaden your horizons; if you think you will never meet a grown-up version of an A.K. out in the workforce you are dead wrong. And if you are being honest with yourself, you know that you need them. What else would you complain about over the dinner table? So suck it up, ignore harder, glare longer and fake-smile wider.