Student Involvement: Waste of Time (Is Not)

As I was getting up for my next nine a.m. obligation, I look to see it is already half past eight. This obligation was a long ways from where I lived. I immediately get up to inspect my clock radio, just to see if there must be some mistake or if I was imagining things. I find out later that the power went out in the Moors while I was away and no one had bothered to tell me. This explanation by my mother late on the same day further explained why I had been late too the very many early obligations I had this week. Naturally for a young man who striving for achievement at the tender age of twenty, my reaction was summed up in one word.

Shit.

I don't shower, I don't shave, and I don't brush my teeth. My main concern is to get the fuck out of the house. Look as professional as you can with as little clothing as possible. I jump in my car and drive out. I-75 to 595 to University. I'm on the Palmetto to go to I-75 and there is a car accident. I get to University and don't know which turn to make so that makes additional probability for a U-turn, which I did eventually make.

I finally get there. NOVA Southeastern is a large fucking University. A friend of mine once went there until she left for some undisclosed and most likely unimportant reason. It is the second largest private school in the country. They have the largest library in the country. It has one of the largest graduate classes ever, and I was thinking the whole time, 'why would anyone leave here?' I imagine the place must be expensive, but not far past any other private universities; This is not taking the cost for University of Miami into consideration.

My meeting was in the library, third floor. I pass the library of congress, stop into a restroom to wash up and make some poor attempt to brush my teeth with gum, and I walk into the meeting room. As usual there is a plethora of white people, two black dudes, three hispanics, and a chinese person. I am waved in, I receive my free shit, and I sit down. Note: I am not in anyway shape or form a racist, I just look out for my people of color more than I do for people of no color. That and they stole my girlfriend, and by 'they' I mean Gainesville.

Needless to say, I sit down in the front with the two black dudes, and watch the powerpoint presentation. I listen.

This happens to me a lot now. I have sat through many of these orientations and such. My problem is, whereas some people daydream about stupid shit, I daydream about ideas. Sexual episodes that can be improved, presentation ideas, and student government. I daydream about ways to grab people's attention and give them motivation to do something with their lives instead of vegetate and do relatively nothing all day. I was daydreaming in and out while this guy gave me ideas with his presentation.

He explained the organization I was a part of. I look around to see if there are any fellows from the area around my university. Hell I look to see if I'm the only one form my university. I am. There is one Barry, and two University of Miami. I opted more for the Barry. The orientation began at nine, and ended at three.

I couldn't help but notice how much I did not want to be a part of it though. It was an organization that prided itself on alleviating college tuition for residents of Florida. People don't know about it though. People from Florida do not even care to ask where this free money comes from. That just retarded my thoughts into the student involvement thing and how much of a waste of time it is. Nobody cares that you make events for them, nobody cares that you try hard to make their voices heard. It's the 'Genovese Effect' all over again. It's hot in a room, you open a window and nobody feels the breeze. Also, it did not help that I was recovering from a Senate meeting that could not happen because of one senator short from having Quorum.

Why do I waste my time? Why do I even try. Why should other people try? Why should students even be involved? I kept asking myself these questions. I did eventually come to my own conclusion.

I have tons of opportunities right now. I am now a different person because I deal with people's bullshit on a daily basis. I am definitely more organized, more optimistic, less lazy, more goal-driven, and less fearful. I am not the least bit scared to walk into a room of fat white guys with billion dollar salaries to explain my cause. I am not scared to yell into a group of students on a behalf of an event. I do the extra work because I manage my time better and know how to get started. It's all almost like reflex and routine. I just do it. I cannot speak for everyone, but I know I can speak for myself.

As I came to that conclusion, a guest speaker came out to speak in front of us. It was very minute to hear him explain how he became a legislator for Broward county. He was reading a newspaper, he didn't like what he read. He spoke about it with some peers of his, and they just asked him "well what are you going to do about it?" He simply said "Well, I'm gonna run." And he fucking did. How the fuck do you go from just saying the most whacked up, not-serious, straight bullshit to a bunch of friends and just do it? The oddity of the beginning of great resolutions.

I furthered daydreamed and thought through what everything these people were saying. My government is not an active government. We're a fucking sitting duck administration. We're not going out there and doing crazy things. We're just taking it all in. Doing what we need to do when we need to do it but not doing projects. There are no presented assessments, there are just spoken words. I'd like to see the fund raising results of the student organizations on paper, and maybe a listing of established events when figuring out who receives recognition. Why don't we do things on time before they are due?

What the fuck is wrong with my Senate. I feel like out of the whole group only four of them really care, two of them just talk bullshit for show, and three of them have no idea what is going on. Where are their ideas, where is their drive? They act like they are under strict surveillance in a but they aren't. We are a democracy and not anything else.

I have a new plan. I have to pep talk them. I need to motivate them to do great things. I need to push my government even if it makes me look like an asshole or some pushy idiot who just wants people to work. I do not care. I need to do something because I swear if I see anyone using MySpace or fucking Facebook I'm going to go off. I am gonna freak out.

Summarizing all my thoughts together, the meeting is over. I met some new people, some great interesting people. Huddled up for a group photo in front of the library. Smiled. Snapshot.

I decide that even though I hate the state of Florida it is more reason to help them and make their students look like asses. Make them look like asses that a New Yorker is helping these children get their money and not a Floridian. It also allows for a great networking opportunity. I could use this fellowship when I get lost in the middle of Florida and I call one of the representatives for directions or a place to stay. Shit I damn well ain't doing this to help Florida; I'm doing it in spite of.

That's right. I'm a lobbyist now. Booyaka, booyaka.

Hello, my name is D***** R****, Speaker of the Senate and Student Representative for the Saint Thomas University Student Government Association, Lobbyist for the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida.

That was so gay. I just needed to see what it looked like written down.