Appreciate
I’m writing this as a junior English Major at a liberal arts college. The audience for this editorial is everyone that has the opportunity to read, write, or breathe, for that matter.
When I was in high school, I was worried about whether or not I could get into a four-year post secondary school, such as PSU. My parents thought that racking up $80,000-$100,000 in student debt was absolutely absurd, for just four years of school. I did too. I thought I was going to go to NHTI for two years, and if I was lucky, I was going to be able to transfer into a four-year school to finish my degree. I’m lucky enough to be here.
Every day, I complain to my friends about how mediocre I think the food here is, or how my apartment isn’t the best. I whine about how slow my computer is, and how I don’t want to have 8 a.m. class next semester.
Recently, I’ve watched one of my closest friends suffer for weeks, wondering if one of his loved ones was going to live or die. I’ve stopped complaining.
The point is, take a look at yourself, and think about how good you have it. How good we all have it. You’re here, studying something that you love, being around people that make you happy. I feel as though we, the student body, take too much for granted in our short time here. Our time on this planet wasn’t meant to sit back, and watch our surroundings unfold in front of us.
Make everyone around you feel welcome, and happy. They deserve nothing less.
Justin Siewierski