Returning To School & More…
By Terrence Cain
Next week is the start of a new semester. I have already purchased my books, and I am ready to get the new semester started! If you haven’t gotten your books yet, I highly recommend that you make the move to get your books and anything else you will need for the semester, because school starts on January 18th. Now with that said, I think there is something that needs to be addressed about recent events in our country that I think we can all learn from.
A tragic event took place in Tucson, Arizona on January 8th that cost six people their lives and wounded over a dozen others. Our country was pushed to its breaking point that unfortunate Saturday morning. I really think this is our reset button, if we let it be. It’s so hard to watch the news today without feeling your blood boil because you become offended by one side or the other’s remarks.
Both sides have seemingly decided that the rhetoric and vitriol has to stop, and I couldn't agree more with them. I also happen to think that this is a time for all of us to unite, no matter what each other’s different beliefs are, because it honestly does not matter what your political, religious, or personal views are about the things that go on in the world around us every day. We are all the same when you get right down to what truly makes us who we are. We all just want to be loved, respected, and taken care of at the end of the day.
I think this is a time for us all to find ways to bridge those gaps and bring ourselves together as the decent human beings I know we can all be when we put forth our best foot. I urge all of us to get away from our cell phones, our computers, and our video games for at least a couple of hours a day and to talk to someone in your classrooms that you have never talked to before. Let’s connect with each other and see for ourselves that the people around us are just like you and me.
And don’t just stop there. Try it out at the checkout line in the grocery store. Say hello to someone in passing on the way to somewhere else. Don’t be afraid to reach out to others or to make new friends. That is truly the whole point of going to college. I know we are all here getting an education for a career at the end of our tenure in higher learning, but we are also here to connect with each other and to make some lifelong friends as well.
And if you find someone who seems to be mentally disturbed in their thought process, someone who expresses violence towards others or seems to talk in an illogical way, don’t be afraid to let your professors or school counselors know. There is nothing wrong with helping someone who needs it. And don’t ever be afraid of reporting problems that you see happening on your school's campus either. If someone is being harassed or physically abused, let your school know about it, but make sure that what you see is what is really happening as well. In other words, use your best judgment.
If you see me in the halls, don’t be afraid to say hello to me. I am usually pretty friendly and easy to get along with. Take care of yourselves and have a great first semester of 2011! Remember to never give up on your dreams, the trip through college may not always be easy, but it’s worth it in the end! It’s also good to lean on each other when times get difficult because we can help push each other towards that ultimate goal. Have a great remainder of your vacation from college. I look forward to seeing you all on Tuesday, January 18th!
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