Page 2 Nov. 18, 2009 OPINION Word on the Hill “What are you the most thankful for?” Life doesn’t allow By Inger Furholt second chances “I am most thankful for “My faith and my “My family.” my family.” family” By Katie Gomez Nick Qualls Staff reporter EDITORIAL Tabbetha Black Randi Dierksen psychology accounting nursing freshman When we’re kids, we spend our to do whatever we want. While some junior junior childhood wishing we could be of us are afraid to inch closer to the older. We look up to our older sib- edge of the cliff known as college lings and we dress like them, talk graduation, many of us can’t wait to “Right now Thanksgiving “I am thankful for being “My family.” like them and especially act like finally be done with school. We just break, good food and good alive.” them. Whatever they do, we do too want to get out, get a good job, get beer.” Thomas Harman because that’s what’s “cool” when married and live in our own house. Alex Loos business you’re older. When we have younger The real world called and it was Laura Welter physical education sophomore siblings, we try to act more grown up our turn to answer. We are now in English freshman so our parents will let us help take our mid-twenties and thirties work- senior care of them. Although we spend ing nine to five at a company that most of our time playing, we’re al- makes us sit behind a desk staring at “My friends and family.” “No classes so I can nap.” “Friends and family that support me through my ways trying to be a “big kid.” a computer until it’s time to go home Stuart Mann college career.” A few birthdays pass and suddenly to our wife and kids. We have bills Amy Buxman we’re adolescents in middle school, to pay and mouths to feed. We’re business digital arts senior Nicki-Kay Nichols caught between our playful youth too busy with work and taking our sophomore physical education and our need to act mature. We trade kids to soccer practice or dance that junior in our silly toys for skateboards we no longer have time to drink un- and cute boys. Girls start wearing til dawn or to stay up playing vid- pounds of makeup in hopes to look eo games. Now we are the ones in older, maybe even pass as a high charge, taking care of our own chil- schooler. Guys start acting out, try- dren and hoping they don’t grow up Choices affect games, reputation ing to be tough. No longer is it cool as fast as we did. you have to make it. The players who make people figure out that in order to be good, to kiss your mom goodbye when she Eventually we become old... my- So, perhaps it didn’t make sense ashamed of Southwestern football you actually have to put the time drops you off in case one of your kids-are-all-grown-up-and-I’m- at the beginning of the season when are the ones waiting for the next Sat- in. However since the football team friends sees you. We are often heard stuck-in-a-nursing-home old. We sit there were football players seen urday night to roll around instead of is the best team on campus, I guess saying, “I can’t wait to be 16 and in back and wonder where our life went drunk on the night before a game, focusing on everything Saturday af- certain players don’t feel they have high school so I can drive and do and what we spent it doing. We no despite their 0-5 record. It probably ternoon. Instead of going over their to. whatever I want.” longer wish for that next birthday, didn’t make sense, either, that they playbook, they go over to the fresh- They can squeak by in a few Just a couple of years and that but rather that birthday fifty years chose to “celebrate” any losses that men women’s dorm. games and then brag about their 3-7 wish is granted. We make it to high ago. We wish we were still young were less than 30 points. The players who say “no” to dis- record, and how much better that is school and now we’re cool. Now that and could act and play like children. PAIGE Heck, it probably didn’t make tractions and “yes” to healthy food than last year, but it doesn’t make we’re teenagers we can stay out late, We become so busy waiting for CARSWELL sense that they “celebrated” losses seem to be a scarcity. There are more them any more credible as a team. hang out with friends, and date who- the next milestone that we never stop that were more than 30 points. who say “Gee, thanks, I’d really like Being proud of a 3-7 record is like ever we want. Bring on pep rallies, to enjoy each stage of life. We end In any matter, that was the football 10 thousand beers after the game I being proud of getting a “D” in a Friday night football games, parties up with a life wasted on waiting and Imagine you have some of the team this season, until they finally just peed down my leg in.” class. Yes, you’re passing—kind of. and the hot girls. For some of us, that wishing with not enough living. worst grades in the school—as a won a game. After that, things really Distractions like women and beer No, you aren’t respected—at all. even means more responsibility and Once we turn 16, there’s no turn- matter of fact, you have close to the went downhill. are bad enough on the football team, If the team wants respect from less parental guidance. What do we ing back to five and playing with worst in school history. Imagine that Walking around the campus brag- but the worst one I’ve heard is, of me and others around campus, and need our parents for when we can do toys. When 21 hits, we are no lon- you can’t quite figure out why, even ging that you “might be able to have course, the strip club. actually wants a crowd, then maybe it ourselves? By this point, our par- ger crazy teenagers without a care in though you study (kind of, in be- a 4-6 record at the end of the season” Two weeks before the season was every player should work on earn- ents are just the “old people” of the the world. When we turn 30, there tween the drinking and partying) all is absurd, but it’s even more absurd over, an inspiring senior captain on ing some fans by pretending to care house who pay our bills and make us is no late-night partying and exam- summer. that instead of trying to make your- the team was informing people how about the season. Maybe they should do chores. We can’t wait to graduate, cramming in the morning. And when Now, imagine that you finally get self better, you would spend your much it costs to get in, how much it stop getting drunk on Friday nights get out of the house and go to col- we are 60 and looking back, there is a “B” on a paper and expect every- time drinking and weighing down costs to ride the “party bus” and how and start trying to figure out why lege. no substitute for your wedding day one to bow to you when you walk your body for the next game. much he had previously spent at the they’re losing games. Graduation comes and goes and or watching the birth of one of your around campus. Now, if I put myself in the shoes strip club during his tenure as a foot- Maybe if we had more people who suddenly it’s time for Freshmen Ori- children or when they take their first It seems ridiculous if you think of a football player, I would proba- ball player. enjoyed playing football instead of entation. We move into the dorms step. We must all learn to appreci- about it, but then you remember the bly be slightly discouraged. I would It’s innocent, yet raunchy, fun, I just being football players, next sea- with 100 other young adults, eager ate the time we have at each stage football team. probably wonder what it would take suppose. son could be fun to watch. But, until to be on their own without parents in life before we miss out on things After going 1-9 last year, narrowly to be better and win. But, is it really a coincidence that then, it’s just a team consisting of 80 around to make rules. This is college. we can’t get back. In life, there are escaping the worst record in school There are players who actually try they bombed their last game by 33 percent losers who don’t care that There are no rules. Yeah, we have a no do-overs and when it’s gone, it’s history, the team went into this sea- to make themselves better and focus points the day before around 30 of they’re losing. few classes plopped in between eat- gone. son with hopes of a brighter future. their efforts to better the team.