system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
Any advice? Not sure how to feel/do

 

Hi everyone! First time poster. I'm a freshman undergrad that just joined a physics lab on the East Coast that I've been interested in since high school. I've had a great time so far with all the grad students, learning a lot from them and my notebook is chock full of notes. I really enjoy their company and the lab.

The lab has a bunch of free computers that anyone can use. I spent a lot of time at one of the computers there to the point where the grad students referred it as my desk sometimes, but I always make sure to keep it clean and tidy in case other people want to use the area and computer. Lately, an upperclassman just joined the lab and sits in that spot. I have no problem with that, but it's just that she doesn't use the computer, bringing her own laptop instead. Last time I asked her if I could use the computer (I don't have a laptop powerful enough for the software I need to work with), she told me space was limited in the lab very matter-of-fact-ly and next time I need to just bring my own laptop and kind of reluctantly moved.

I felt really bad for some reason (maybe since she seemed annoyed by me), but I'm not sure why/if I should be feeling this way. She keeps using up that space even though she doesn't use the computer and we have space in the lab for people to work on their laptop. Would it be alright to just keep asking her to move? Today when I came in one of the grad students noticed that where I usually sat was taken up by her again and asked me if I needed the usual computer I used, even referring it as "your." But me, being the non-confrontational person that I am, said I was alright and just worked by hand for a while.

Would it be ok to keep asking her to move every time I needed to use the computer? I don't want to get on the bad side of one of the (new) upperclassmen, but at the same time I really want to get work done in the lab. Am I overreacting/too worried about this?

Sorry if this is ranty, it's just been bothering me too much lately.

TL;DR: Upperclassman keeps using a computer spot that I usually use, got annoyed when I asked to use the computer, and continues to occupy the computer space even though she doesn't use the computer (just uses their laptop instead).
gpt
Just be up front and honest with her. State that she has a laptop that she can use and you don't and this place is reserved for people who uses the computer. Surely anyone with half a brain will be on your side if she decides to complain.