Campus needs common courtesy

The transition from high school to college was a challenging one. I went from knowing everyone in my school to only a few people at Buffalo State. I was excited for the change and the chance for new friends, but the excitement of this new fresh start and exciting chapter in my life has yet to begin.

School used to be where I was happiest. I loved socializing with everyone in the hall and  (sometimes too much) during class. Everyone knew one another and there was a sense of belonging; I felt that I was a part of something.

That's what I miss the most; it's something I just don't have here at Buff State. I went from waving to everyone in high school to looking down at the campus ground and hoping that someone will say hi.

We've been going to school for about two months now. I told myself in the beginning that it will get better with time, but I've started to slowly give up on that.  I don't enjoy coming to school, and although that may not seem surprising to many, it's a major difference from how I was before. I wake up every morning wishing it were the weekend.

As a commuter, it's harder for me to make friends. I've gotten advice to get involved, and have made an effort to do so, but I don't feel that my efforts are rewarded.

During high school, I played tennis. Buffalo State doesn't have a tennis team or courts, so that wasn't an option. I also used to write for the newspaper and broadcast the televised announcements in high school, both activities that I wanted to pursue in college. However, as I tried to get more involved, there were mandatory meetings during Bengal Pause for different groups that conflicted and I can choose only one.

I have met some nice teachers and students so far here, and I'm very thankful for how kind they are. I also do see some thoughtful people whose good deeds do help me through the day.

Sadly, it's the unfriendly actions that stick with me the most. Not long ago, on a rainy Friday afternoon, I was walking to my car after class. As I crossed Rockwell Road to get to the parking lot, I slipped and fell in the mud. My umbrella broke and was covered in mud. Even worse, the raisins I was saving for my afternoon snack were covered in mud, too. I looked up as cars drove by me, people walked by and even around me, and not one of my fellow Bengals stopped to help.

It was a lonely feeling, picking myself up out of the mud and walking to my car like some sort of mud-covered zombie in a dress. I got in my car, turned on any sad song I could find, and drove away, wondering the whole ride home why no one stopped to help me.

Maybe if they knew me, they would've helped. But that shouldn't be a factor. I'm not asking for someone to now carry me to my car or lay out a carpet so I don't fall in the mud again. All I'm asking for is a little respect, a little care and a little acknowledgement that we're truly in this together.

I know there are new students in the same boat as me, unfamiliar and nervous with their surroundings. We're all looking to be welcomed with open arms, though in order for that to happen, we need to be willing to welcome each other.

I want college to be an enjoyable, exciting time for all of us. I like seeing students holding the door open for others. I even get excited hearing people say "Bless you" when someone sneezes in class. That simple acknowledgement, the simple gestures that prove people care, that's what I want to see more of. I'll do my part to make Buffalo State a welcoming place, and I ask you to do the same.

Colleen Young can be reached by email at young.record@live.com.