Browsing: Opinion

Editorials and opinions from the Lariat staff and readers.

Around the world, many television shows have stopped production due to recent strikes by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. This leaves many fans with nothing to watch or look forward to. However, there are still some shows airing, thanks to competition-based reality television.

This select group of Instagram users and celebrities, whether they realized it or not, robbed young girls of the innate joy that comes with sharing their excitement with the world and proudly loving every part of themselves. It is up to us, as young women, to take back that stolen joy.

By the time you get to college, you’ve already heard all the typical advice like ‘don’t bring your whole wardrobe’ or ‘don’t skip class.’ But as the years go on, there are plenty of lessons you learn along the way. Here’s what members of the Editorial Board wish we had known about college.

As you go through college, appreciate your comfort zone, but try to expand and step outside of it too. If something new comes around, don’t be afraid to say “yes” and go for it. While there is still the possibility that you won’t enjoy it, there is also the possibility that it will extend the span of your comfort zone. Who knows, maybe that “yes” will lead you to something that will entirely change your time at college for the better.

Upperclassmen, remember that you were freshmen not too long ago. The transition to college can be overwhelming, so remember to give freshmen grace and patience. When it takes a little longer to get places because freshmen are still getting used to Waco roads, or when your favorite place is incredibly busy because the new class just discovered it, remember what it felt like to adjust to that new environment and stage of life.

On the first day of class, I was ecstatic to finally put the iPad to use. Thanks to the tools available with the Apple Pencil, I made color-coded notes for all of my classes with perfectly straight lines and dashes. The only issue I ran into was professor preference. Many professors, including half of mine this semester, have a strict no-technology policy — which includes taking handwritten notes on an iPad.

Although the school year has just begun, you might already be eagerly anticipating making your summer plans — a summer job, a vacation, studying abroad or getting some classes out of the way. With so many options, I want to offer a suggestion: Consider being a camp counselor.

With entry into university life comes plenty of new privileges for students, and the ability to vote is among them. For many Baylor undergraduates, the 2024 presidential election will be the first opportunity to put this power into play. However, what many students don’t realize is the buildup to the Nov. 5 Election Day has already started, and their chance to take action begins now.

The crackle and pop heard from a turntable is what makes it so special. There are more convenient and reliable ways to play music, but vinyl delivers music with the charm of a live show and the emotion of slow-dancing in the kitchen.

Why is a lack of personal finance skills such a common theme among college students? One of my co-workers is $800 in credit card debt. I have overheard two of my classmates joke about how they had less than $5 in their checking accounts. Even my 22-year-old brother didn’t know how to make or maintain a budget until just a few months ago, despite living independently. College-aged students need to prioritize personal finance to establish foundational financial literacy skills that can set them up for a successful future post-graduation.

Ah yes, once again the Baptist Church put women in their place in 2023 … at least, that’s what you’ve been told. That couldn’t be further from the truth, and Southern Baptists have been providing the receipts to back it up for decades.

Overall, seeing people eye-to-eye can help you appreciate the value of their life. No more excuses of, “Oh, they don’t believe this or that.” Life is short, and we need more people who can see someone for who they are and not what they believe in.

It’s vital to recognize the true situation of the places you travel to and to support them in their times of need. While “The Valley Isle” is evidently famed for a gorgeous landscape that attracts visitors from all over the globe, it’s much more than just a popular tourist spot. People live there too.

Baylor events, in my experience, have the tendency to be dismissed as hot, loud and overcrowded gatherings that will in no way add to one’s Baylor experience. While all of these descriptions can make school events seem less appealing, I think attending them significantly adds to the Baylor experience.

As I begin my junior year, I won’t tell you I have it all figured out — I don’t. What I will tell you, however, is not only do I think you will survive at Baylor, I believe you will thrive.

However, while spending time away from them, you begin to realize they are aging and always have been. They spent all of your life looking after you and putting your needs before theirs. It only takes one call to make their day.

Whether you liked the film or not, be a girls’ girl (or guy) and practice empathy for others. Build up the women, men and people around you, validate their experiences and learn from the gender-related hardships they may face.

After three years on Baylor’s campus, I feel like I know the place inside and out. One thing I’ve learned is that this university offers a lot to its undergraduate students. Whether you are looking for academic, emotional, mental or physical support, it’s more than likely that Baylor has a resource perfectly designed to provide that support and improve your life on campus.

What I’ve learned is that it’s OK to envision your dream life, but don’t make the same mistake I did by ignoring some of the more unfavorable bits. For all you soon-to-be Bears, here are some things I suggest considering.

This is the one time in our lives when it’s OK — and, in fact, expected — to be selfish. No one is dependent on us. We’re just here, trying to figure out what career we want to pursue for the next several decades while simultaneously learning how to sort laundry, pay rent and cook anything other than bagels or ramen. It’s about growth. It’s about self-discovery. It’s about independence.

Although we have our flaws, we are much more than a lazy group of kids, just give us the chance to prove it. Just like the older generations are learning to live in a modern world, we are also trying to live in a world that has no former teachers that had to deal with everything new that’s being thrown at us.

Thank you all for being such a big part of Baylor to me. I will always look on college fondly because of the bright spot the Lariat created for me here. For my last time, I’m closing the camayak tab with a full heart and memories to hold onto forever.