Way back in January, I made a New Year’s resolution to complain less. It lasted for a few days, and then I found myself complaining about how hard it was not to complain. It’s too cold outside, and now my jacket will mess up my outfit. It’s raining — now I need my umbrella, as if my backpack wasn’t heavy enough already. Other petty college thoughts would fill my head about assignments, and social events, and sports and clubs. It’s disappointing how, at the time, the most trivial, selfish idea can seem more important than anything else. But it’s all about perspective. There’s a continuous reminder that I come across constantly on NC State’s campus: the students involved in ROTC.
Think about the amount of times you complained about your 8 a.m. I’m willing to bet it was more than once. As a morning person, I’m out and about pretty early most days, walking over to Main Campus about 7 a.m. I always find myself thinking under the lights that are still on due to the still dark sky as the sun starts to rise, wondering if anyone else is awake yet. But before I can answer my own question, I’ll see clusters of students walking back to the residence halls. Wait. NC State’s first classes don’t start until 8 a.m., so they aren’t coming back from class. The dining halls just opened a few seconds ago, so they aren’t coming back from breakfast. Why are they out so early? As my path crosses theirs, I see “ARMY” written across their shirts.
These students are enhancing their own skills for the benefit of all students (and citizens, for that matter) at a time before the majority of us even think about setting our alarm clocks. When they wake up early, it’s not about themselves. It’s about something so much bigger and greater than any individual person. It’s about their passion for our country: their willingness to contribute their time and effort so that other people don’t have to think twice about their safety and freedom.
On Wednesdays when I see all the ROTC members in uniform, it strikes me every time. Sitting in class next to a student going into the Army, or Navy or Air Force makes you sit up a little straighter, try a little harder and think less about yourself. Suddenly that tailgate you’ve been looking forward to seems a little less important. Instead, I know I feel grateful about my plans to fly home for Thanksgiving to see my family. In a few years, those students might not have the chance. I feel grateful that all my rights as an American, my rights that I take for granted, are protected because of their decisions to stand up for our country. Without them, where would an American even be in the world?
I walk across the Brickyard as they practice learning their orders and steps, doing their personal best for the best of the country. Amid a busy, rushing college campus, there in the middle of the Brickyard, they are focused, committed and selfless. They set an example for all students to follow. Whether it be their determined mindset, their sacrificial attitude or their dedicated efforts, we can all learn lessons from the choices they enforce through ROTC every day.
That rainy weather doesn’t seem like a priority anymore, and the jacket that messed up my outfit is less than an afterthought. I’m lucky to be able to wear that jacket. Other Americans wear camouflage jackets or their required uniforms no matter the temperature or the weather so that students around the world have the opportunity to dress in their own clothes and walk to class to get an education without having to worry about attacks and oppression from other countries out there. And the best I could do was complain about it? I don’t think so.
All of the ROTC members deserve a lot of credit for not only choosing to pursue a selfless future but also for being great role models for NC State’s student body. As Veteran’s Day rolls around the corner, it’s easy to remember to thank those who fought for our country. But be sure to thank the generation of students who plan to fight for putting NC State’s red and white into America’s red, white and blue.
