In college, it’s easy to forget that there is an outside world. We forget that anyone outside of the ages 18-22 exists (well, besides professors and the occasional dining hall worker). School itself is so consuming that we don’t have the “time” to keep up with what is going on in the world around us. If we do have spare time to check the Internet, we spend it detoxing our brain by taking quizzes on BuzzFeed to find out “Which of Taylor Swift’s exes you should be dating.” When I don’t even like Taylor Swift or her exes.
I am guilty of becoming completely consumed by the bubble that exists on college campuses. I like the ignorance. I like checking Cosmo on my Snapchat and that being the only form of news I read all day; even though, with the power of the Internet, I have the opportunity to see what’s going on around me at nearly any moment.
But, you see, I don’t like the reality of the world around us. There are bombings and shootings and an election that could change the course of my country. It stresses me out that there is so much happening in the world that I cannot change. So my first instinct is to pretend like the world outside of Furman doesn’t exist.
This is an immature way of thinking, to ignore the things in the world that I cannot change because it “stresses me out.” Maybe. As an informed adult, I have the responsibility to stay up to date on the current events of my country and my world. As horrible as some of the events are, I need to stay educated so that I can form an opinion on the matter. This is a step of maturity, to realize the part we play in the world around us. We must realize that our role is both insignificant and vastly significant.
If you are like me, young, consumed with your own life, I encourage you to wake up. The world isn’t about you, not at all. But you are still important, and your actions so make a difference.
As a citizen of the United States, it is your duty to know what is going on in our government. The point of a democratic republic was to make sure every citizen had the opportunity to have a say in their government. Exercise this right and inform yourself of what is going on in our government. Make sure you are voting for a candidate that you agree with on issues. Don’t lend a hand to partisan politics. This is a great quiz to see which candidate you side with most, I would suggest basing your choice off that.
And please, please exercise your right to vote! Don’t let “choosing the lesser of two evils” become a reason to take the passive approach. Whether or not your favorite makes it past the primaries, vote! You’ll be proud to wear around that little sticker when November rolls around.
I respect individuals in college who are passionate about current events, and seek to educate their friends. During this election season, the amount of college students involved in campaigning on campus has impressed me. They are not only choosing an issue that they are passionate about, but also bringing their peers outside of the bubble.
Subscribe to the daily Skimm, get a news app, keep up with what’s going on. It is so easy to stay in tune to society through technology. If you are in college, spending so much money on your education, trust me, keeping up with the news will make you a more educated individual than that GER on Japanese film you’re taking.
College is a fantastic time in life, but it should be used as what it is—a time to grow into adulthood around peers who are going through the same transition. College is about expanding yourself as a human being, intellectually, socially, and emotionally. Expand yourself and connect to your country and your world.
