Final answer:
At four in the morning, a college student might be engaged in activities like studying or working on a paper. The student in the given scenario is leaving the library exhausted after working on a paper and studying, and while walking home, experiences nervousness due to being followed but eventually lets the person pass.
Step-by-step explanation:
At four o'clock in the morning, you might find yourself engaged in various activities depending on your individual schedule and responsibilities. Often, this hour is associated with either late-night studying or the early moments of starting a new day.
Reflecting on the scenario described, it presents a student who has spent a significant amount of time in the library to get a paper started and to study for an upcoming exam. The student is now leaving the library to return to their apartment, experiencing exhaustion and a sense of wariness due to the late hour. Furthermore, the mention of analyzing Kate Chopin's short story 'The Storm' suggests that the student is involved in literary analysis, which can be a complex and time-consuming task, contributing to the lateness of the hour and their weariness.
The student has also encountered a situation that has heightened their sense of nervousness. During their walk home, they have noticed footsteps following them, which became uncomfortably close, so they decided to step aside to let the person pass.
This action relieves their anxiety momentarily as the stranger briskly walks past, allowing the student to continue on their way. Such experiences are common among individuals walking alone at night and can be distressing. Nevertheless, these experiences are not isolated to any one field of study and could be relevant to anyone in such a situation.
As the student reflects on their nocturnal academic endeavors and encounters along their nightly journey, they are immersed in the dual roles of a conscientious student and a vigilant pedestrian navigating the solitary streets after midnight. This twin set of responsibilities characterizes the life of many a college student, balancing between academic demands and personal safety.