By Kim Manahan (Whetstone Staff Writer)

Kim Manahan

I wish more people had passion.

It could be laziness, or it could be a generational thing; but sometimes it seems like people my age don’t really care about a lot – aside from who their neighbor is sleeping with, or where they can find a fake ID.

We complain, but we don’t do anything about it.

We critique, but we don’t make any effort to make improvement.

We say we want to do something with our lives, but we put it off more and more each day.

It’s not everyone, but it’s quite a few people. And it’s the kind of thing that stands out when it happens.

Last year, for example, some of the guys from SIFE expressed interest in advertising for The Whetstone, and were even offered commission for any advertisements they got.

It all seemed like it was going to work out – I mean, future businessmen practicing business…

But they ended up dropping off the face of the earth, and didn’t do anything for us.

Or even when people join our staff saying they want to do something related to the media with their lives.

They talk about how they want to be a reporter.

And then they blow every deadline, skip assignments and focus more on their social life.

These are the people who will be competing with those who have a passion when it comes to getting a job.

These people just want the money or the “easy way,” it seems. Or, sadly, they do it just for a citation on their resume.

I love alcohol, but I love journalism and politics more.

This isn’t just in the real world, it happens on a college campus.

We complain about something, but don’t do anything about it.

Whether it’s the cafeteria food, a certain teacher’s policy or the rules for drinking on campus.

We say that we don’t like how something is, but just sit back and hope that it’ll fix itself.

That’s not how the world works.

The cafeteria food isn’t going to get better overnight; a professor isn’t going to wake up one morning and decide they don’t care about absences; and security isn’t going to take the sticks out of their butts for no reason.

Do something. You know?

Get off of the couch and say something.

Get involved; either on campus or in the community.

Maybe even nationally.

Vote.

At least try to make a difference.

Or keep your mouth shut.