Conservative Student News

Wake up, check your e-mail, get dressed, grab something to eat and it’s off to classes, meetings, the library, the gym, student teaching, the lab…It’s another year at the University of St. Thomas and things are underway!

Needless to say, mid-semester is full of projects, papers, tests, and unfinished business that seems to always pop up just when things get unusually busy.

For the freshmen, the independence experienced during this first semester in college is usually something quite new. Something new—that is a little scary and overwhelming at times, yet certainly thrilling and refreshing. This is the time one gets to take advantage of a plethora of educational, social, cultural, and networking opportunities, unparallel to most any other time in our lives!

Whether we are freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors, perhaps a 5th, 6th year senior, or one returning after taking a leave-of-absence, this is time to “get serious” and find out what we want to do with this life we are given. Making that decision is not something one does in one day, but over years of daily choices to stay on a certain path or take a detour onto another one.

As Brian Brjolin and Madison Chambers say in their articles—go out and get involved—find out what you think about issues so you can take a stand and develop the person you are becoming. If you are interested in politics, communications, journalism, freedom of speech and spurring intellectual debates on campus, I would encourage you to get involved with the St. Thomas Standard! Get your thoughts online at stthomasstandard.com! Don’t like what you see? Write in and tell us about it!

Also, for any of you who may be young conservatives interested in developing and strengthening your leadership skills, the Leadership Institute will be visiting St. Paul, MN, November 10-11th. If you would like to attend the Upper Midwest Youth Leadership School feel free to contact Madison Chambers at mhchambers@stthomas.edu!

If students, like yourselves, take the initiative to get involved now, to develop opinions now, and to express those opinions—how much better for the carrying out of this school’s mission; for the future lives you impact; for our government; for the mark we leave in this world.

Be true to your self. Don’t worry about “going abroad to find who you are” or what you believe—Emily Dickinson had a marvelous conception of the world and barely left her room. (Of course, I am not recommending that you become little moles—get out and make a difference, living each day as if it were your last).

Instead of watching your favorite reality shows with friends—start developing your own exciting reality—discuss philosophy, campus issues, politics, religion, and moral issues. Whether you agree or disagree, discussing deep issues and being challenged to support what you believe in, not only develops your confidence in speaking, but it allows you to gain some of the closest friends you’ll ever have. People willing to talk about things that matter will end up being the people that matter in your life, regardless of whether you see them on a regular basis. It is surprising the impact we can have on each other during these rather formative years.

Here’s to another good year at the University of St. Thomas—let’s make the best of it!