According to collegeboard.com, 21 percent of the 6,404 estimated total undergraduates of Nicholls State University live in college housing. This statistic implies that 79 percent of Nicholls students, roughly 5,060, commute. With the large number of commuters at Nicholls, campus involvement has revolved around students who “stick” around campus, especially recently.

Many students complain through their various social media outlets that “Nicholls sucks” and that they “cannot wait to leave Nicholls and get a job.” Many of these students are the same ones who show up to school, attend class and then drive home. There is a reason why some do not enjoy Nicholls as much as others. These individuals have no earthly idea of what Nicholls truly has to offer.

Nicholls offers more than just a quality education; it offers several outlets for people of different talents to express themselves. These outlets, academic, Greek, the arts and many others, contribute to the true pride students have to be a Colonel. This pride can be found through joining an academic club, attending athletic events, joining an organization or getting a job on campus, to name a few.

The true love of Nicholls may not be found in a classroom of Peltier or an auditorium of Gouaux, but the point is, it can be found.

This is the time in all of our lives to learn and take in as much as we can. College for some is only a short four years, and for some of the lucky ones, five. As we all are trying to graduate so we can “move on with our lives,” we must all try to take a minute and realize that once college is over, it is over. These are the times we will never get back, so why not try to contribute to the University that has given you so much? It is nothing to attend a 30-minute club meeting or to attend an athletic event free of charge.

Many are tired of hearing about the select few people who have their hands in almost every Nicholls organization. Instead of complaining, why not instead do something to change this? Become more involved. For the many who want to attend graduate school, student organizations look great on applications.

So, next time you see an advertisement for a meeting of a club that interests you, or you see a poster in the Union about an upcoming an athletic event, attend the athletic event or club meeting. It isn’t hard to stay at school 30 minutes later or to attend an athletic event free of charge.

A college education is not found solely with the achievement of a college diploma. The true college education is found through the friendships made with other Nicholls students, the realization of goals accomplished and the self-satisfaction found with completing a task that you never thought you could.

When you walk across the stage, do you want to be wondering what you could have done? Or, would you rather be thinking fondly of all of the memories you have made during your time at Nicholls? It is your choice, Nicholls students. We are here, so why not make the best of it?