Today, I saw a classmate duck for cover just so she could avoid a simple hello. Later on, I saw six students stand on a staircase and block off everyone who tried to pass in order to continue a conversation. Oh, and let's not forget those students in the dining hall who leave behind their mess as if some lower dining bus boy is going to come by to clean it.
Apparently, some college students have lost their sense of manners and decency. Common courtesy really isn't all that common. If I had to write a book on how many times I've seen a lack of decency and common courtesy right here on campus, I would beat J.K. Rowling, who has finished the seventh book in her Harry Potter series.
My whole family is Jamaican. I grew up in New York, but with Caribbean values. If my parents saw what I have seen on campus, they would be appalled. If my parents saw me ducking in order to avoid conversation, and not cleaning up after myself in the dining hall or residence halls, it just wouldn't fly. If only they knew how many beer cans get left unattended in the hallways and not recycled. Didn't people learn manners at home? In my house, I learned to take off my shoes when I enter, to always treat people kindly, and to help those in need. I learned to never talk back to my parents and to always treat others how I want to be treated.
Although there are many students on campus who don't show decency and a sense of manners, there are indeed many that do. I know a few people, who regardless of what they are doing and where they are going, have a smile on their face and always say hello. Sometimes I will be having the worst day, and their smiles make me feel a little better.
And there are those people that actually clean up after themselves and take the time out to speak to the workers and say, "thank you," and "have a good day." When I see this, I think to myself that all hope is not lost, but I fear that the number of students that actually do these things is low. Our campus has mastered opening doors and holding elevators, but I'm afraid that it might just end with that. Try smiling at someone here on campus; it is such a shock that most times when I do it I get this very baffled look. You would think some people don't know what a smile is. Maybe students learned different values? Or maybe some of us are just too busy to give a damn about "manners" and "common courtesy." But all I know is that if this indecency, lack of common courtesy, and selfishness keeps up we are at a loss and I have to admit I'm a little scared. These are the future leaders of our world.
Sometimes I wonder if people have just forgotten all the manners that were taught to them at home. People look down and away just to avoid having to say common things like "hi" or "have a good day." I see people I know all the time trying to duck for cover to eliminate conversation, but I mess it up by saying, "hello" really loudly so they have no choice but to acknowledge my greeting. Students crowd in the dustbowl and instead of leaving walkways clear, they stand there while you have to walk around in the grass to pass, and look at you like "how dare you try to pass while we're talking." So rude. People constantly cut lines, and there is no such thing as "please" and "thank you," as if the world isn't already bad enough. The other day my roommate and I struggled with our groceries and did not receive one, "Hey, do you need some help with that?" Now one could say, "well I'm not obliged to help you, hey I don't even know you." Well if that's what you're thinking, why help people in other countries? Why have respect? I don't know you right? It goes beyond helping someone with groceries, but if we as people cannot respect our own, or even be cordial and courteous, how can we even start making a difference in the world?
At BC there are so many students who volunteer and go on service trips, so clearly there is some kind of contradiction going on. We love to help others from a distance but not people on our own campus. I think it is very important to help those in need when you have the opportunity to do so, but at the same time I feel that if we can help abroad why not close to home? Now I don't know about you, but I feel it is our duty as good citizens and just overall as people to try to be courteous in this life, because then maybe we could have a more peaceful world. Think about it. A wise person told me, "It costs nothing to treat people nicely, and you often find that you profit greatly from it." So why not try it, you have nothing to lose.
Just imagine a world without manners or common courtesy.
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