If you are a Ball State University student reading this, you are probably rich and healthy.
At least you are compared to more than two-thirds of the world population.
You may be thinking "Comparisons are odious" or "Why do I care about this?" It's true there is no need to stress about the state of those less fortunate than yourself or to spend hours contemplating your position in the global economy. However, remembering that you are a privileged American could help you be a little more optimistic, as well as make better choices.
A report by the U.S. Public Interest Group released in April of this year found that the number of college graduates entering the job market with high debt is increasing dramatically.
While some of this debt is due to high interest rates on school loans, a large portion of the debt is attributed to students wanting to buy things they can't afford. I have heard so many students complaining about what they don't have and so few celebrating what they do have.
Many students worry about things like not having nice enough clothes, having to walk instead of drive and not having the money to buy a new cell phone.
If these are your biggest concerns, consider yourself fortunate because here is some news for those who do not know: College is a privilege, not a right. Driving a car is a privilege, not a right. Owning your own home is a privilege, not a right. And believe it or not, having your own cell phone and laptop is also a privilege, not a right.
Most people in the world will never go to college or own a car, so don't get too bummed out if you have to walk three blocks to your 8 a.m. class five times a week.
Wasting too much money on things that are temporary trends often means your college experience will be weighted down with debt you'll later realize wasn't worth the expense. I know it's hard to keep a clear perspective on values when celebrity magazines are dominating the media and standards for being popular are higher than ever.
Instead of comparing yourself to Hollywood celebrities, try comparing yourself to some people in the real world. You'll discover that, compared to most of the global community, you have the riches of a celebrity. Sure, sometimes school gets tough and sometimes it sucks being a student, but it certainly beats the alternative.
Learning to appreciate what you have may be one of the greatest lessons you'll learn in college. Reading the newspaper occasionally or traveling outside of the country will show you that America really is the land of opportunity.
It's nice not having to worry about where you next meal will come from or how you'll get through the winter.
It may sound extreme, but these are real concerns for a lot of people in the world. If you take advantage of the privileges afforded to you, you will realize you already have enough choices to make and opportunities to seize.
Appreciate the fact you live in a free country and remember the Declaration of Independence guarantees the pursuit of happiness, not the right to happiness.
Enjoy your pursuit and don't get consumed in material wants and debts.
July Lam is a senior journalism major and writes 'Stick that in Your Pipe and Smoke It' for the Daily News. Her views do not necessarily agree with those of the newspaper.
Write to July at jrlam@bsu.edu.
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