second year priya desai

Are you desperate for a new way to measure your personality? Astrology just not doing it for you anymore? Interested in identifying with one of 4, or 9, or 16 different personality types and basing all of your immediate future actions off of it?

Well, look no further: like everyone else who spends their time aimlessly filling out Buzzfeed quizzes to determine who you are based on the stock photo bedroom you decorate, you’ll love this quiz.

It’s a bright, sunny, summer day. What are you doing?

Hanging out with my tight-knit friend group; we’ve known each other since elementary school, and we never fight!
Spending the day in the ocean - I just feel so connected to nature, especially in the summer.
Writing poetry alone in my room while listening to Sufjan Stevens on repeat.
I have an internship to get to, obviously. Oh, you don’t? That’s fine, not everyone cares about their future.

Which movie made you weep uncontrollably?

Up: Did anyone expect those first ten minutes?
Call Me By Your Name: Any movie with Timmy is enough to make me weep.
Titanic: A timeless classic, really.
I haven’t cried since 2011.

Which of the following qualities are you most attracted to in a person?

Honesty: I need to know I can expect a truthful answer when I ask, “do you really like me?” for the fifth time in a night.
Empathy: When I start crying, I expect my partner to do the same!
Intelligence: If they don’t listen to The Daily podcast by the New York Times, how can I expect them to keep a conversation with me?
Humor: I exclusively date stand-up comedians. Sorry!

Your ideal meal looks like…

Brussel sprouts, quinoa, and a refreshing glass of oat milk!
Taco Bell. Or maybe some fries. Whatever’s convenient, quick, and ensures I don’t have to cook.
Realistically, a bag of goldfish and some Gatorade. I forgot to get groceries again this week.
A bagel from Einstein Bros, eaten as quickly as possible in between classes.

If you picked mostly A’s, B’s, C’s, or D’s… congratulations! You are a nuanced person whose character cannot be compiled into one narrow description.

Look, this isn’t meant to shit on personality quizzes, even though I recognize that many of them are inherently flawed (I am a psych major, after all). I myself am an avid personality quiz taker: a type 2w3 enneagram, an INFP-T, and a Trefoil cookie based on the Buzzfeed wedding I just planned. And yes, I am deeply sentimental, disgustingly idealistic, and want to be loved. I can’t be certain about what the Trefoil says about me… I’ve already forgotten the result.

Personality quizzes are fun, regardless of how accurate they really are! In fact, I’d argue that knowing my enneagram makes me a better person, although it’s important to recognize just how easy it is to fall down the rabbit hole of hiding behind the results you’re given to justify your behavior. Take what the internet says are your best qualities and cultivate them… but maybe spend less time trying to fit yourself into a neat little box. After all, none of us do.

Cult of Personality