Let your voice be heard, no matter what others say
Commentary by Hemi Ahluwalia

“During Spring Break, a show was aired called ‘Conspiracy Theories.’ The show’s main subject was primarily about whether or not the moon landing ever happened and if a man has ever walked on the moon. It also showed how the government may have led so many people to believe that, in 1969, a man had actually set foot on the moon, when in reality it probably never happened.

The show had a lot of facts and information to back up the theories. Well, at least there was enough information to make people wonder, ‘What else has the government been trying to hide from us?’”

The last two paragraphs were the lead to an article I wrote on March 29, 2001. And I suppose it was this particular column that eventually led to my demise at the newspaper, or at least started me down the road.

But after four years of being on campus, joining various organizations and working at the school paper, this will probably be the one thing that I will be remembered by, well this or that other thing.

And that is OK, because out of all of the things that I learned at TCU, I learned that stating my opinion will get me a lot of bad e-mail. Now, I am sure that there are some people out there who think that I am full of it, but you know after being in college for so long, I have learned that it is the same as high school: full of back-stabbing people.

Now I don’t want to sound bitter, because I am not. These past four years have had their moments. I have met a lot of wonderful people, I have had great professors and I have experienced so many new things. I have learned how to write a news article, shoot a broadcast package and how to make a resume tape that will hopefully get me a job when a graduate.

Of course, I could make this a serious article from here on out. I could say how I want to “thank” everyone for everything that they have done for me. But, honestly, that would not be my style. I am more of the sarcastic type. The type who goes for the laugh, rather than be drop-dead serious.

Taking things so seriously all of the time can cause real problems. Even health problems.

But back to the subject. From here I will go on to bigger and better things. I will leave TCU with an $80,000 degree, $200 in parking tickets, $150 in graduation fees and no jobs that I would call priceless.

Now that I am done with all of the clichés, I will give credit to all of the people who helped me be the way that I am. To my first opinion editor, for running my columns. To Johnny Baby, for his column Wednesday, from which I got my inspiration. To Brandon, for trying to make me more positive. And to everyone else, you know what you did. Really.

But now I have reached my inch requirement, which means that I must end this with some inspirational advice. And all I can think of is to give some advice that has been with me through my years in college. For everyone who has to continue with another semester at TCU: BE LOUD, let your voice be heard.

And for all of those “believers” out there ... I still stand behind my belief that we never landed on the moon in the summer of 1969.

Hemi Ahluwalia is a senior broadcast journalism major from Stephenville. She can be contacted at (h.ahluwalia@student.tcu.edu).

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