Morals.
Has today’s society become totally oblivious to this word and the meaning that it holds?
My answer to this question is “yes,” as I have witnessed numerous situations in the past year where individuals showed no respect for the property of others and had no understanding for whether their conduct was right or wrong.
My first situation with dealing with people who have no respect for others and their property occured last November. 
After working a Saturday afternoon at my job at Southbridge Mall in Mason City, I went home to realize that someone had broken into my home.  Because of someone who probably just needed some quick cash, I spent months being terrified to live in my own home.  This person obviously had no respect for me or my property and was only concerned about getting what he or she wanted.
Believing that lightning never strikes twice in the same place, I went nine months without having any of my property tampered with.  This much appreciated “dry spurt” came to an end on Monday, August 1.
In broad daylight while I was at work and my vehicle was parked in the Southbridge Mall parking lot, someone smashed my passenger window out of my car and stole my CD player.  This left me without a car to drive for a week and without a stereo that I received for Christmas last year.
Does this inconsiderate person realize that it took me almost a month of work to earn enough money to replace my window and CD player? I’m sure that this person is not concerned with my feelings, but it’s not right that I had to work to replace items that were mine in the first place.  This person received a free stereo and I was left trying to pay for a window so I could drive my car.
As if having my vehicle broken into that day wasn’t bad enough, someone stole a dresser, dresser drawers and all of the drawers’ contents from my grandma’s lawn that same afternoon.  She had the dresser airing-out from the July flood and didn’t consider the possibility that someone would take advantage of her misfortune and steal her belongings.
While working in the mall, I also have the misfortune of dealing with thieves.  At my work place, adults and children shoplift merchandise daily.  Because these individuals have no respect for the store and the employees who work to maintain it, thousands of dollars of merchandise is stolen annually.
Looking back on these incidents, I realize that there are some people in today’s society who have no morals.  I advise these people to get a job and if they already have one, they need to get one that satisfies their financial needs. 
It is not fair to law-abiding citizens like myself that we have to replace property that these people take from us.  It’s not our fault that these people aren’t satisfied with their lives and don’t know right from wrong. 
To these troubled individuals, please stop tampering with our property.  If you like what we’ve got, I suggest that you purchase it yourself.

Just as everyone has a story, everyone has a quote.  But a good quote doesn’t have to come from a scientist, poet, journalist, artist, politician or leader.  In fact, some of the words that have impacted me the most have come from my three-year-old and five-year-old nieces. 
The idea for starting a column dedicated to quotes came easy to me - one day a light bulb just went off in my head.  However, the challenge was finding a name to encompass everything I plan to write about this year - from movie quotes to proverbs, from love lines to jingles. 
The common thread in all of these quotes is that they serve a purpose; they’re more than just ramblings, more than just words.  They tickle the funnybone, motivate, encourage, compliment or enlighten.  I’ve filed many of these quotes to my memory and have found that that can be helpful in many situations. 
As the new school year begins, you may want to file these words from Mark Twain to your memory.  “Don’t be afraid to go out on a limb.  That’s where the fruit is.”
This year, find the courage and the time to do something that you’ve always wanted to do.  Audition for a play, participate in a sport, join a club, meet new people, study hard and take the initiative. 
Some of the goals that come with the biggest risks and most dedication will taste the sweetest when they’re broken in the end...and you can quote  me on that. 
 

Without a doubt NIACC is a learning institution.  All the homework, papers and exams tell us that those instructors are up to something educational.
However, beyond the classroom NIACC also teaches everyone a little more about themselves as there are some things that not every syllabus will cover.
First, almost every student improves on his or her social skills by meeting new people and making friends.  I know at first it can seem hard talking to total strangers.  But don’t worry because most likely they’re just as nervous as you. 
It’s so much easier not to fall asleep in class when you know that someone else made the same choice of taking a 7:40.  So swallow up all those butterflies and say hi to a person sitting next to you.  You never know, he or she might share the same interests as you, shocking I know.
Lastly, every student needs to laugh.  Perhaps the thought of laughter brings that warm feeling of happiness in the pit of your stomach or maybe just a small chuckle as you recall the crazy things you’ve done.
Either way, laughter is something usually caused by stupidity, jokes or stories, but always makes for some of the best memories.
Personally, stupidity makes me laugh the hardest, but it’s not other people’s stupidity that gets me rolling.  I have the luxury of always doing something stupid in public.  One could call it a gift and curse at the same time.  But it’s something my family and friends have learned to deal with, and uniquely love me for it.
Now as I grow older and have reached the point in my life when it seems college students are always doing something interesting (like getting tattoos), I’ve learned to roll with the punch line.
So to the new students and the ones returning to NIACC this semester, I hope that you are able to make new friends to share the crazy, but fun times, with laughter.  I’d hate to be the last one laughing.