As I sit in the dorm listening to Don Henley’s “New York Minute,” I cannot help but think about the things many of us take for granted on a daily basis, such as friendship or the love of a family. For those of us who are no longer living at home, we easily get caught up in our own activities, taking advantage of the personal freedom we are given as adults. With this freedom, we can finally make decisions for ourselves, but we also have to face the consequences and realize that our actions do impact the lives of others.

The most recent tragedy at NIU proves that at any moment, our friends and family could be taken away permanently – “one day they’re here, next day they’re gone.” Although we immediately seek answers and propose solutions to prevent future tragedies, the reality of the matter is that we only have the power to control ourselves and our own actions. Death is the ending of life on Earth, and at one point or another we will inevitably lose close family members and friends.

When we experience a traumatic event, we go through a natural grieving process and then many of us return to our preferred lifestyle. With the great technology boom of the last few decades, I believe that materialism and self-gratification have superseded the traditional interpersonal relationships like our parents and grandparents had. Perhaps we should go back to engaging in more “family” activities, because their true enjoyment comes from the atmosphere itself. By appreciating the non-material entities and positive concepts in life, I believe we can take advantage of the time we have to spend with those close to us. After all, in a “New York Minute,” everything can change and things do get pretty strange.

Brett Steven LaVelle
Freshman
Criminal Justice