"You're left-handed."

Almost every or every other day I am faced with this same phrase.

And almost every or every other day I ask myself if the person is making a statement or asking a question.

I always assume they are asking a question, because I already know what hand I use. But then again if they are asking a question, the answer is obvious. So, I'm really not sure what to do when I hear this phrase, unless the person, asking (or stating), is left handed. Then, you have an instant connection.

It's kind of like being in a sorority, traveling to a different state and finding out someone you meet is also in that same sorority.

Hundreds of years ago the Catholic Church believed left-handers were "servants of the devil."

This came about because of a few misinterpreted verses throughout the Bible including, "And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you ...

"Then shall he say unto them on the left hand, depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels...these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal."

Thankfully the Catholic Church just had a misunderstanding for a few centuries, because I would have no place to worship.

Even during the generation of our grandparents, most parents did not want their children to be left handed. They didn't want them to be made fun of because they were "different."

Today, society has lightened up a little and accepted left-handers as their own. Although, there are still many obstacles we've had to overcome.

Try sitting at a desk since sixth grade, where you are trying to juggle a book and a three-ring binder, and then reaching across your body, twisting your back just to take a few notes.

My sophomore year of college, I actually sat in a left-handed desk for the first time. Wow, it was nice! No fighting with my books and binder.

If there is a left handed desk in any of my classes, you can bet I'll be sitting at it.

Oh, three-ring binders. Yes, I ruled those out a decade ago. They just don't work for us unless you take out the paper. Therefore, notebooks are pretty much out of the question too.

It's amazing how quickly you learn what does and doesn't work for you being left handed.

I found out rather quickly erasable pens were not my best friend, nor are a few other types of pens. Writing with pencils isn't fun either.

Try having lead or ink smeared all over the side of your hand and wrist, or even a callous from your hand dragging over the paper as you write.

Yes, that is my battle wound of more than 18 years of writing left handed.

As a child I knew I could never use marker books like other children. Instead of coloring left to right I was coloring right to left.

Although I'm 21 and have adapted quite well to the right-handed world, I still have problems with certain things.

Everytime I am screwing something in or out, like a light bulb, I always have to repeat the phrase "righty tighty, lefty Lucy." I know it sounds crazy, but it gets confusing.

Though only one in every 10 people are left handed, there is nothing wrong with it.

Lefties are a minority, just as natural blondes, women over six-feet tall and people who have no complications with their wisdom teeth.

So, for the nearly 1,200 students on campus who are left handed, don't be embarrassed because you occasionally get your left and right confused. Feel special because you are somewhat ahead of the right-handed world.

You adapt easier to anything including change.

You've done it your entire life.

Jennifer Reynolds is a senior journalism major from Shreveport and serves as editor for The Tech Talk. E-mail comments to jmr035@latech.edu.