In all reality, we are a bunch of broke college kids. Chick-fil-A announces free sandwiches and the entire campus suddenly has nothing more important to do than snake a line and far exceed the maximum capacity of the building while waiting for a free chicken sandwich.
The percentage of students making enough money while attending school to fully support themselves is very low, bowing in comparison to those who either rely fully on others, or those who try to earn enough for a bit of extra spending money.
At the moment, let’s forget about where the money is coming from and be honest. Whether you work hard for your money or beg hard for money from your parents, are you really honest when it comes to your finances? How many times have you found yourself being turned down by friends for a night out at a nice restaurant because they didn’t have any money, only to hear about them grabbing food from various fast food places that day (which add up) or to be shown their super-new, cute shirt from the mall that they bought with the money they didn’t have?
To put things into a more current perspective, I dare to bring up Spring Sing expenses. Spring Sing does add up. Participants may only have to pay a small fee for dues, or it could add up even more with shoes, undershirts, tights, make-up, etc. Somehow, someway, club members far and wide scrape together the pennies and items required to take part in the most hailed activity at this campus. I hate to go there… but what number of these people find themselves making excuses with friends, turning down charities, passing by fundraising booths and — dare I say it — passing the plate at church? And yet, Spring Sing costs are covered.
I am not without blame. I, along with many of you, am guilty. For example, no matter what my financial situation, no matter how sad my checking account may be, nor even if I have literally robbed my poor piggy bank’s full tummy — I can always find enough dough for a big ‘ol pizza pie. That doesn’t even touch base with my shopping addiction.
So let’s be honest. When someone asks you to go out but you have money set aside for something else — SAY SO! Don’t lie and say you don’t have the money, tell them that you really were saving that money for a different activity. Be honest with yourself as well as others.
Instead of being cheap and lying to yourself by saying that you really don’t have the money to donate a whole $1 to a good cause, be honest and realize that if you have the means to go to the movies, pay for Spring Sing or grab Starbucks each week, it is most likely possible to find that extra dollar for a good cause, or even the contribution plate.
No cash? Not an excuse! It can get awkward when people blame it on the “no cash” excuse. Because checks are extinct and ATMs are unheard of, right? All I’m saying is it’s time to quit hiding behind the standard college student excuse and accept some responsibility.
Jacqueline Lovejoy is a junior at Oklahoma Christian University
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