As college students, we should all be familiar by now with the back-to-school routine.

Unlike our earlier educational days, however, the first week of classes at college is a particularly memorable time. Without the August heat and back sweat, there is a particular fresh vibe that pervades campus.

Whether it’s reuniting with friends who you haven’t seen in months, attending back to school “gatherings,” checking out all the pretty faces on your walk to class, or, for some, just soaking up the first week of your collegiate experience, the first week reminds us of how good we’ve really got it.

Many students, myself included, volunteered with various organizations over the summer.

Personally, when I arrived back from a summer doing construction work in Mexico, in came feelings of gratefulness and humility – after the initial culture shock.

Gratefulness for all that I have, for my family, for my freedoms and the chance to live a comfortable life, and humble enough to know the world is a very large place, and there is always room to learn more about our neighbors.

Being in Mexico for three months and living and working among some of the world’s most impoverished people, yet seeing how much joy they have, teaches one that perhaps we should look at changing ourselves and our attitudes before trying to change everything to suit us.

Perhaps we simply should be grateful and thankful first, appreciating all our country has and how blessed we are to be able to live here and attend this University.

I’m a believer just as much as the next guy in trying to improve and adapt our society for the better, and there is need for reform in our country and the world in many areas – but we can all make a personal choice to be grateful first.

Look for something new and exciting every day that you didn’t notice before, seek first to understand and then be understood and take the time to listen and learn from professors and administrators who have completed more hard work and schooling than we have.

Being open to adapting how we view the world and appreciating our blessings not only can give us valuable perspective on life itself and what really is important, but can help us all be a little happier and a little more friendly.

Understanding our blessings additionally is a call to action, and each individual has his or her own call.

Far be it from me to attempt to dictate each drummer’s own beat.

For some the athletic field is a haven. Others prefer volunteering or activism, and some will be the next great scholars or musicians of the world.

Whatever it is you do, do it with a joy and passion that reflects the blessings we enjoy.

- Jay Rogers is a sophomore from Atlanta with an undecided major.