Soapbox: It’s time to stop calling mommy to solve problems
BY MARIAH NOBLE, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Change sucks. It always comes, and it’s necessary. But no matter what the positive effects of said change may be, we treat it as though there’s an unwritten rule stating everyone must focus on the negative.
And whether you like it or not, this is going to be a year of change.
Something I’ve learned my last few years at college is that I cannot control everything. I can influence the people around me, help bring up topics in conversation, but I can’t control how the conversation develops. Not all people to think the way I do, and I’m glad they don’t. If I had never been introduced to new ideas, I’d have the same perspective I had at age 12, when I believed the name of male anatomy was a dirtier word than a derogatory name for homosexuals.
College is about experiencing new things, and becoming someone you’re happy to be. You can still be you, pushing to change the world in whatever way you think is best, but you’re going to have to grow up a little. It’s about learning how to handle your own problems, rather than calling your mom so she can yell at a professor. It’s making friends with people you’d be uncomfortable approaching in high school.
There are plenty of opportunities to express your opinion here on campus — letters to the editor, Aggie Radio, MyVoice, direct emails to administrators or faculty members — but figuring out how to solve your own problems is a skill you’ll need throughout your life.
You have to be able to control your emotions and communicate. Learning when to aggressively face conflict and when to go with the flow will help the changes we all experience this year to be something that builds character and patience. As you go through these situations, share your stories and what you learn in letters to the editor. Help your fellow students learn from your mistakes and triumphs.
You won’t be able to control everything, but you’ll be able to grow. And if you’re lucky, you might start something that changes the world.
— Mariah Noble is the editor-in-chief of The Utah Statesman. She is a senior studying journalism, Spanish and multimedia, planning to graduate in May 2015. Please send comments to statesman@aggiemail.usu.edu