Eradicating poverty and apathy starting with me

As I sit on the second floor of the student union building at my university in Virginia, the sun shines down upon my face through the window and gives me the false allusion that it is warm outside. Thoughts flow in and out of my mind as I sit writing; this is one of my favorite places to contemplate life and finish work, looking over the land off into the distant reaches of the Shenandoah Valley. Sitting here, I envision each of the Guildford 60′s faces as I think of all of the passion and dedication that was so beautifully displayed at the forum. I remember promises of activism, smiles of now dear friends and I remember passion for education and knowledge.

I contrast these memories to my daily life at University- a place that is meant to intellectually and culturally cultivate minds while challenging students to open their minds and view life from different perspectives. My romantic view of what a university should be, is not what I have found. As with any place, there is good and bad, and there are also good students and bad students. In my classes, I see proof that there is a huge problem of apathy in today’s young students. I can only attest to the United States, but I have sneaking suspicions that this might be a global issue as well. Many of the youth walking around seem to not understand the countless opportunities that they are so lucky to have through their education and university. We walk around complaining about that long paper we were assigned or the absurd amounts of reading we have to do, but no one thinks of the 120 million young people around the world who don’t have an opportunity to even go to primary school. Kids who would desperately love to go, but cannot because their isn’t a school available or they have to work to simply survive.

It is hard for me to remember just how lucky I am on a day-to-day basis; I get lost in my own complaints about roommate problems or a lack of sleep. I have to and I try to constantly remind myself of the awesome opportunities I have been afforded due to my education. I think of my opportunities as a responsibility as well. Because I have been given these gifts of fortune, I have the responsibility to help bring those opportunities to others as well. I also have a responsibility to be grateful for my education and to appreciate every second. I have to take this opportunity I have and make the most of it.

I sit in the sun, and I feel thankful.

Peace ~
    whitney