Do you consider yourself appreciative when it comes to your college education?
Once you have graduated, will you forget those who helped you get across the stage?
I am hopeful you will choose to honor those who helped you during your journey through college.
I know that some, if not most, people do not plan on returning to their hometowns after graduation, and that’s OK. But it is important that you do not forget where you came from.
Do not act like you don’t have to show your mother, or any other person who tried their best to send you to college, any further respect because you are now a highly educated and independent adult.
In the novel, “The Joys of Motherhood” by Buchi Emecheta, the character Oshia gets wrapped up in his education and becomes selfish.
He forgets the sacrifices his mother made in order to get him a higher level of education.
He moves away from his hometown and never visits home until his mother dies.
You should be appreciative of those who support you because you never know what kind of sacrifices they made for you. And most of all, cherish your mother because without her, you would not be here.
Some people were not lucky enough to know their mothers. Maybe you only had your father or grandparents; maybe you were raised by a sibling or foster family. Plain and simple, honor those who raised you.
While in college, if you do not have money to buy your loved ones gifts, you could just show your gratefulness by visiting them for holidays, calling them once a week and not forgetting their birthdays.
Remember, actions speak louder than words.
When you think about it, there are other ways that your loved ones showed support besides giving you money for school. Maybe someone cooked for you, listened to you when you talked about the stresses of college life or even opened his or her home to you when you wanted to get away from college life.
According to wikipedia.com, “The Golden Rule,” or the ethic of reciprocity, says to treat others how you would like to be treated.
I know you would like to be respected or appreciated when you do good deeds, so don’t you think others would too?
Life is too short to be ungrateful.
You should spend as much time as you can with the people you hold close because, after all, what makes life special are the people who care about you.
Natashia Sutton is a senior public relations student from Panama City. She can be reached at natashia_sutton@excite.com.