Broken budget blues

We have heard it all. No one, and we mean no one, is immune to the ravages of this economy. Sweet old ladies are losing their lifelong investments and their hope. Families, young and old, are abandoning homes with their pets still in them. Workers who have held positions for decades are losing their jobs with little warning. And in higher education, California's multi-billion dollar deficit is sending college students scrambling for admission into classes.
Those lucky enough to get into a course will find classrooms overcrowded, with students spilling shoulder to shoulder into hallways. As a result, professors are finding it difficult to provide students fair or equal attention. However, we still possess the resources and the drive to learn.
It is understandable that not everyone is passionate about education. Some do not give a damn about college and that is all right. Nevertheless, for those of us who do – we may be packed into rooms like sardines with professors who are so inundated with students that, despite their best efforts, they cannot help every one of us. Well, that is all right too, because we are all adults and we are responsible for our own decisions and our own education.
If we really want to learn – if we truly have that burning desire to succeed – we can do it with less than optimal circumstances. That is not to say that we do not need our professors – we do. However, since they are so busy, we have fantastic resources right here on campus.
We have many state-of-the-art facilities, a beautiful and well-stocked library, a math study center, and writing center, multiple computer labs, and a variety of other places from which to receive help. All of these resources are either free, or very low cost, courtesy of better times in our state.
   So stop complaining. We understand that it is tough but we need to be proactive. It is up to us to grab the metaphorical bull by the horns and make do with what we have, as it is more than enough. Whining never got anyone anywhere.