Ever get the feeling that somebody’s following you? It’s because I am. Have you noticed?

Don’t worry; I’m not going to be creepy about it. But I’m there. I promise.

Feel free to think of me like your backpack. I’ll just follow you around, come to your classes. I’ll even hang out in your room while you’re sleeping.

But you’ve been ignoring me. I think it’s time we talked.

We used to be so close. You would always come to me when you didn’t know what to do.

Lately our relationship has been like those two guys down the hall. You know, the ones who were close in high school but now everyone knows that they don’t talk. Not even a grunt of acknowledgement as they pass each other in the hall.

That’s like us. I don’t know you anymore.

Should Binghamton include ‘your sense of right and wrong’ under ‘Don’t Forget’ in the packing list they send to incoming freshmen?

You’re in the big leagues now. The decisions you make here stay with you, buddy.

Don’t know what I’m talking about? Think of this past weekend. Too long ago? Can’t remember it? That’s good. Most people don’t start losing their memory until they’re eligible to collect Social Security, but maybe we should amend that stat to include college students.

‘So what,’ you say. ‘It’s college, that’s the point.’ Funny, for some reason I thought the point of college was getting an education. Isn’t that a peculiar ideology?

Second rationalization: ‘It’s college, nothing matters.’ Here the punctuation gets more confusing. Does nothing matter because you are in college? Or, are you in college because nothing matters? Thought for food.

All I am asking is that people take a good, long and honest look at their lifestyles. Slow down for a moment. Ask yourself some tough questions: Are you living consistently with your principles? Do you know what your principles are? Do you have any?

You won’t be graded on these and nobody has to know how you would respond.

There is something to be said for honesty. I applaud the student who answers the question: ‘In 500 words or less, please explain why you would like to attend Binghamton,’ by saying: ‘Having grown up and spent my entire life in (insert here: Long Island/Westchester/somewhere Upstate/Turkey), I would like to expand my horizons and get drunk in new places.’ An intellectually condemnable response for certain, but honest nonetheless.

I challenge you to recall what you responded when asked that question. ‘Why would you like to attend Binghamton?’ Are you living up to those ambitions or have you since changed what you value? You’re not rejecting anyone else’s ideals if you have, just your own. The only person you’re disappointing is yourself.

Take a moment. Really. Examine your life. The people you surround yourself with. The ways you occupy your time. How you behave when no one is looking. What you would do if no one saw.

How about the way you interact with others? Would you want your children to see videos of how you spend your weekends? Or would that make you uncomfortable or embarrassed? What if your children were to behave the way you do? Would you be proud? Ashamed?

I’ve learned plenty in college so far. I’ve learned about Moritz Schlick and the Vienna Circle and I’ve learned about Napoleon and the French Revolution.

But more than anything else, I’ve come to know how remarkably easy it is for people to get carried away and leave their consciences behind. That, my friends, is why it is crucial to make sure your values are rooted deep. Your life literally depends on it.

Living an honest and self-aware life is not an extracurricular.

From here on out things will not get any easier. If you’re not certain of your morals and beliefs, they’ll be swept up like Dorothy and Toto. A storm is coming. I can feel it.