Finding happiness
From a young age, the idea of college had always been enticing to me; something about living on my own, making fun memories, meeting new people and trying new things was so exciting. As I have spent more time on campus, I have noticed students at BYU are so focused on their studies and reaching an unattainable form of perfection that they are not allowing themselves to live in the moment and create the college lives they always dreamed of.
Students would bring more positivity, flow and overall happiness into their lives if they were to closely observe gratitude, quality time and social interactions. A recent study from Harvard Health shows that psychologists have scientifically proven that one of the greatest contributing factors to overall happiness is how much gratitude one shows. By simply noticing what is around us and expressing gratitude, we can become unshackled from toxic emotions and bring long-lasting positive effects to our brains.
Whether it be spending time with your best friend or casually getting to know the person next to you in the Chick-fil-A line, social interactions are key to our happiness. If the whole goal of college is to learn and grow, why not flourish in ways deeper than a textbook? Start today; set goals for yourself, and follow through. There is no better person to take charge and make a difference in your life than yourself. Make it count.
Mikayla Pearce
Parker, Colorado
Attempts to save are costing disabled students
Hundreds of colleges around the country have shuttle programs to move students around campus. NYU moves their 30,000 students through downtown Manhattan on a university shuttle. However, BYU’s stance on transportation seems to be as described on their website, “You can walk from one end of BYU to the other in under 20 minutes.' For someone who is struggling post-surgery or has a condition that limits their ability to walk, this explanation is the equivalent of “let them eat cake.” If other schools can afford to have a public transport system, we as one of the largest private universities in the country should also provide this service.
For me, this issue is personal. I had knee surgery two months before school started, and when I called the Accessibility Center, they told me the only alternative to walking to class was to be pushed in a wheelchair that I had to provide. Fortunately, I healed enough to walk on my own, but those who aren’t as lucky are forced to either endanger their health or make themselves the center of unwanted pity and attention. A shuttle would allow them to get to class safely and efficiently.
Critics of this plan will say that a shuttle route would not be worth the cost. This is an odd comment considering how willing the University was to fund a new Cougareat. If we are spending money on our Chick-fil-A and Wendy’s, instead of a transport system for our disabled students, we need to rethink our priorities. Despite the cost and logistics behind the university shuttle, our disabled students deserve this accommodation.
Myle Larsen
Wayland, Massachusetts