The hustle and bustle of shoppers started at 6:00 AM on Friday, November 24, at the King Of Prussia Mall, less than half an hour from the sleepy Perkiomen Valley High School in the midst of Thanksgiving Break.
The King Of Prussia Mall is the third-largest mall in the United States. The mall serves as a favorite spot for many, and with over 450 stores, it is a hub of local noise. This is especially apparent on Black Friday.
As I walked into the mall, I was immediately overwhelmed by the sheer amount of people around me.
The lines for stores snaked out of store entrances with families and friends sitting on chairs, gathering themselves before returning to the daunting task of Black Friday shopping.
Every store I entered followed the same chaotic routine: People pushed their way through crowds to get to the clothes on the rack; their exhausted faces and tired bodies held up by weary legs.
A mob scene marked the return of the Black Friday experience: waking up at the crack of dawn, rushing to the stores, and scrounging for any good deal available. Despite the stress, people enjoyed the nostalgia of adrenaline-fueled madness.
My point of view for Black Friday now is so different compared to when I was little. I used to go with my mom and sister and only went to smaller shops like Marshalls and Target. The smaller crowd was more appealing to me at my young age. In stark contrast, the KOP Mall is filled with people squished up against one another. In my years now, I can finally understand the difference.
This day goes to show how quickly our society evolves from being a kid; safe under the watch of your mom, to having to squeeze through hundreds of people and waiting in hour-long lines. Though Black Friday is not for everybody, every year it brings people together, whether they like it or not.