We often are asked “did you hear about X” or “did you know about Y,” and often times, college students, including myself, are clueless about what is happening in our world. I have learned that it is very easy to develop a certain routine, and it’s hard to take a moment and educate ourselves on current events in the nation.

Constant studying, exams, meetings, and other obligations seem to take the place of real learning, an education that affects all of us, regardless of our different majors and future careers. Following what’s happening in the news can help us in more ways than one might think because it’s affecting the world that we will occupy and lead in the future.

I get it. College takes up more of our time than we would like. It feels like there is always something to worry about, whether it be finals, applying for internships, or scholarship applications. But these four years are important to your education. These are some of the most transformative years of our lives, as we are shaping not only our future but who we are.

But to not take part in our future by paying attention to what’s happening in the news is inexcusable. Passage of certain laws, major controversies, and debates on the biggest issues our country faces are affecting the world you will live in and the world your family may live in. How can you not feel the need to learn about what is happening in our world?

But I also understand that certain news outlets have particular political affiliations attached to them. FOX News is known for being on the more conservative end of the spectrum, while channels like MSNBC are on the more liberal side. It feels impossible to find a source of news that is completely unbiased, sharing the facts about events like the “Black Lives Matter” movement and the gun-control controversy as a result of mass killings such as the Stoneman Douglas High School Shooting a few months ago.

As a journalism major, I know how important it is to be as impartial as possible in your reporting. There are certain ethics and rules that need to be followed in order to ensure facts are given, not opinions. But as these news networks use certain language and invite particular guest contributors who may be the representatives of their respective political party, they attract a certain audience to each of their broadcasts, widening the divide between people of differing views.

This divide may change the way we interpret the news. However, it is important to receive that information, from both sides of the political spectrum, and find the truth for ourselves.

Forming our opinions on controversial topics, such as abortion or the border wall, can be very difficult. Often times we take on the political views of our parents, as we take their knowledge on the issues to heart. We have been taught to believe what they say all their lives. In college, however, we have the freedom to form our own political opinions for the first time, even if they differ from our parents.

Not to say that my political preferences have swayed much from those of my parents, but being on my own for the first time, I have learned more about my world than the 18 years I lived with my parents due to the diversity of opinions and takes on current events. Even just reading the opinion section of our campus newspaper, I can get a unique and warranted viewpoint, even if it’s about an on-campus event.

So, I ask you to educate yourself. Drop your biology textbook or American government study guide for 10 minutes and educate yourself on what’s happening on your campus, in your state, in your country, and our world. You may not remember what you learned in organic chemistry or intro to music, but you will need to know what events are shaping our society. Whether you pick up a copy of The New York Times, tune in to CNN, or listen to a quick podcast briefing, do yourself a favor and learn something that could affect your future.