College shouldn't change your beliefs and behaviors

Jonathan Fiedler / Columnist

Just because you are in college, you do not have to do certain things like:

Become age prejudice.  We were all once goofy little kids, and if we are lucky, we will all become gentle grandparents.   Just because young adults are in the majority on campus, Elon students should not look down upon kids or elders for any reason.

Have a growing level of disrespect for the community.  The campus is beautiful.  It is our responsibility to keep it that way, along with showing the workers appreciation who keep the maintenance and function of the Elon community running smoothly.

Consume alcohol.  There are not many positive things that result from alcohol consumption and many problems can be created from drinking.

Although it may never be completely removed from campus, all consumers need to drink responsibly.  If you want a few extra bucks every week, refrain from buying a few cold ones at the bar.

Stop calling home.  Although college students may get tired of hearing their parent's advice, they did raise us and played a large role in getting us to college.  The great Katy Stanfield always tells me, "When I lost my mother, I lost my best friend."  Let us all savor each moment on the phone with our family members.

Feel a need to succumb to peer pressure.  Have the courage to take "the road not taken."   What is popular is not always right, and what is right is not always popular.  Do not feel as if you have to change who you are just to feel accepted and loved in college.

Lose track of what is going on around the world.  We are world citizens before we are Elon students and it is our responsibility to try to keep up with what is going on in the lives of our brothers and sisters around the world so that we can lead a helping hand if they need our aid.

Stop saying "thank you."  So many

people at Elon are doing so much for the students, whether it is behind the scenes or in the dean's office.  The campus bookstore should sell out each week of "thank you" cards.

Form social "cliques." Branch out and try to meet someone new every day.  We will only have this ideal opportunity to be submersed with so many of our peers in this setting; we should try to try to be Elon students before we are members of an organization or club.

Can you imagine how awesome it would be if Elon became one student organization of 4,800 where we all supported and cared for one another?  It would be the closest we could come to heaven on earth.

Let us turn the campus into "heaven at Elon."

Contact Jonathan Fiedler at pendulum@elon.edu or 278-7247.