In this outpouring of noise we call college, it is crucial to keep your goals and priorities as your daily focal point.
        Why did you come to K-State? For most of us, it was probably for the scholarly atmosphere and academia. But on a deeper level, the reason why becomes a little harder to identify. 
        In my own experience, it was my chance to become who I have always wanted to be. The collegiate lifestyle provides resources to develop mentally, socially, professionally and spiritually.
        Many of us use this time to define who we are. Friends, studies, professional associations and beliefs mold the figure we are striving to become.
    Admittedly, course work is usually the center of our actions. Daily class, study groups and seemingly infinite textbook readings accompany the pursuit of knowledge. With time and luck, this knowledge will be put toward a larger, more significant cause. 
        Many students are most concerned about the social scene, and it is a large part of the experience. Whether it concerns long talks that carry on well past midnight with your closest friends or a Friday night out with the gang, our relationships formed now will prove to be the most memorable part of our tenures.
        Are your actions reflecting who you want to be? Does the world see you as the person you think you are becoming? Unfortunately, only a small portion of us can reply affirmatively.
        Going about our daily routine, it is hard to comprehend how quickly our minor decisions equate our habits. At the time, most of our choices seem like they are the right and natural answer, sometimes even the only answer.
    Are they good solutions, or do they create more problems? Do they lead you on a path of righteousness?
        When we realize they are not, it is often too late. Fixing this habitual predicament gets rather involved, and if there is a possibility of ratification, the help of others is a requirement.
        There are times, however, when we simply do not realize the faulty situation at hand. These are the most dangerous to the process of developing our future selves. Our friends hopefully will notice and bring attention to the issue saving hardship in the future.
        It is important to ask ourselves if we are, in fact, on the correct road as we begin a new chapter in our lives in college. Our seemingly unimportant, small actions that we repeat daily should reflect how we wish to appear to the world. If upon closer reflection, we discover this is not the case, it might be time for an evaluation.
        Stepping back and taking a long look at where you are in life should happen frequently. Breaking through the noise and slowing down life, we can find ourselves, define our goals and develop a plan.
    Perhaps there is something bigger that one can be continually striving toward — something you will be proud to become, someone you are called to be.


Shane Oram is a sophomore in biology and political science. Please send comments to opinion@spub.ksu.edu.