"When we visited our first (and spoiler alert, last) casino, I didn't find the crowded gambling tables and cocktail attire so often glamorized in pop culture. Instead, I saw endless rows of everyday people glued to machines, seemingly unaware of the neighboring gamblers or the cigarette smoke around them. The scene almost reminded me of how some people walk around college campuses glued to their phones, never once looking up to take in the community they're in."
"Historically, I have preferred to stay home, maybe drink wine with a few close friends, and present an out-of-pocket PowerPoint about who I think I was in a past life. But there was a part of me that hoped Las Vegas would help me come out of my shell and be the "wild and free" 22-year-old I always felt I was supposed to be."
I arrived in Las Vegas after sundown at the end of a cross-country road trip with two friends. I hoped the city would coax out a more outgoing version of myself, but the casino scene felt unappealing and overwhelming. I observed rows of people fixed to machines and cigarette smoke, which contrasted with the glamorized image of nightlife. I have historically preferred quiet nights with close friends, and Las Vegas did not produce the excitement I expected. The experience led me to accept my introverted tendencies rather than forcing a performative social identity.
Read at Business Insider
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