If you’re anything like 25% of all people, (according to a 1996 Gallup Poll), odds are that you have superstitious beliefs.  Whether it’s staying away from the number 13, black cats, or even standing under ladders, superstitions follow us everywhere.

Even if you don’t identify as superstitious, you probably say, “Bless you,” when someone sneezes. Participating in these ritualistic actions to avoid or combat bad luck or negative consequences is part of everyday life.

Many people have superstitions. Senior Cecile Chacon acknowledges the supernatural. She said, “Anything like black cats in an ominous setting or birds crashing themselves into windows never fails to make my skin crawl.” Senior Michele Sanchez believes that things happen for a reason because of supernatural powers.

When asked where they learned these beliefs, many students pointed their finger to the shows and movies they watch and family influences. Junior Jaime Vargas blamed his fear of spirits and bad omens on horror movies he watched as a child. “My cousins and I used to stay up in the living room watching movies about spirits and demons. It was cool at the time, but supernatural experiences have taught me those things are nothing to play with.”

Freshman Julio Savello says that his distinct fear of walking under a ladder has been engineered by his family’s similar fear and warnings. “My mom has always warned me against doing things that could bring us bad luck. She’s always been extremely superstitious,” he said.

Similarly, sophomore Emilia Claro said, “My mom has convinced me superstitions are true, and even if I don’t personally believe it, I always react negatively to any sign of them.”

Other superstitious people realize that their beliefs might be faulty. Reynaldo Cardenas said, “I get bad vibes and sometimes they are true, although I have confirmation bias.”

Freshman Daniela Garcia said, “Sometimes I think I’m being irrational with my beliefs because even when I don’t do things like throw salt over my shoulder when I knock it over, the superstitions never come true,” said

Some students go out of their way to not make bad superstitions come true. Freshman Ernesto Gonzales said, “I was going to this party in an apartment building, but as soon as I found out it was on the thirteenth floor, I immediately canceled.” Senior Reynaldo Cardenas said, “I try to prevent people from enacting bad luck on me, so I’m usually nice to people or I’ll avoid them.”

On the other hand, junior Manuel Espejo commented, “Although I do believe in supernatural occurrences, I will never let it stop me from getting or doing things.”

Non-believers are equally potent about doing things their way. Sophomore Lizbeth Pavon said, “I’ve never been one to be fazed by a scary movie or Halloween. It’s only natural that I wouldn’t believe in superstitions.”

Freshman Ana Gonzalez personality doesn’t think about superstitio