The harvest moon has come and gone, illuminating the sky and shedding light on the brightly colored leaves scattered about the campus. During these beautiful times it is easy to exhaust your energy in seemingly important things, losing sight of the entities and individuals in life that truly matter.
As Christmas draws near, each person should take a few moments to reminisce about the previous year. At first glance, this time may have passed in a mundane manner, however, upon further review, it is clear that we are all fortunate for the ordinary occurrences of our everyday lives.
The institution that we attend has given all of us enormous opportunities to succeed in a variety of spectrums. Academically, classes are challenging and interesting, led by a diverse faculty that cares for every student. Athletically, the College, as well as the student body, supports each team that dons the celebrated black and gold. Socially, students are surrounded by their intellectual peers, enabling them to engage in scholarly discussions that extend well beyond the classroom. Had the College not drawn all of us together, the experiences that will continue to shape our lives for years to come may not have transpired.
Relationships are an important facet in every life, and the College, in a sense, has provided us all with life-long friends. The individuals that you associate with each day help to define you as a person, facilitating your maturation and emotional growth. Shared experience is important, whether it be a late night in the library or light post bowling after an eventful Saturday of drinking, these experiences help bring individuals closer together. Without these bonds, many of which become eternal, a great void would exist in all of us.
Life itself is a gift that should be cherished. People sometimes take life for granted, wasting days away. True, everyone can and should use a day to recharge their physical and emotional battery, however, too often individuals fail to further themselves in some way each day. Intellectually, it is important to grow, yet, other spectrums of life are also significant. Take time out of your day to meet someone new or explore the unfamiliar parts of campus, it may be life changing. Solely focusing on a singular study or activity blinds a person, prohibiting him or her from seeing all that the College and world have to offer.
Recently, articles have appeared in The Voice that criticize the College and the student body. Yes, there are problems here and it would be foolish to deny this, as nothing is perfect. However, as you look back on the previous year, be thankful for the opportunities that have presented themselves to you. While at the College, none of us live in a war zone or need to worry about where our next meal will come from. If nothing else, be grateful for this,† things could be much worse. As the trees become bare and the temperature drops remember, we are all part of an extraordinary community that wants each of us to succeed and that has and will continue to provide for us.