I was sitting in the HUB-Robeson Center the other day finishing up this column. I was suffering from an intense all-nighter from the night before and a terminal case of writer's block. Sitting next to me was a man my age, working on a paper and some random equations. He looked to be in the same shape I was in -- tired beyond all ends and just trying to make it through the day. I commented on his appearance, and we started to have a conversation. Small talk ensued and we started to find some common ground. He told me his story and it was calming to find someone in a similar situation as myself. I will call him Sam.

There was no doubt that Sam was working hard on his equations and paper. I know the feeling. But one thing started to stick out as Sam and I were talking. My situation started to pale in comparison to his, all because of one single element. Sam understood one thing that has escaped the common college student these days: sacrifice.

These days, our culture has an elevated ignorance to sacrifice. In fact, its almost vogue to be totally oblivious to it. But bringing it back to the point here, myself, as well as Sam, understand that everything is coming at a price.

Sam is working his way through school. I, luckily, do not have to do this, but I am not living like a king either. I don't even have cable. But in comparison to the average college student, things are a little tougher on his side of the table.

While he was talking, I started to think about the choices he had made. He is living on his own, and working outside of school. He has few friends these days. His major is industrial design, and it has keeps him at the studio night after night, keeping his grades up and making his work the best it can be. I asked him, "Why don't you go out or hang with your friends a bit more?" He just smirked and said, "Man, it's what I have to do." These days, it is not very hard for people with a high school degree to get in to some kind of formal higher education. That is unless, you are broke. The proverbial ladder to success starts with the first rung -- money.

Riding on his own dollar, Sam was destined to get the best education he could buy, and for him that means working hard and doing the best he could at any price.

Although his story is quite unique, I understand his drive. His drive is to do something more than just getting by in life. This land of America, in the broad sense, gives us the power and chance to do great things with our lives. Sometimes, in the process of preparing yourself to do great things, you have to give up some things that you enjoy, only to reach those goals. Sam's friends have a hard time dealing with this. They think he forgets about them or hangs out with other people. While his friends traverse the bar scene, Sam is in the lab working. He even spoke of a friend who called his answering machine to let him know he was leaving town. Sam hadn't had the time to hang out since December's graduation, and missed the chance to say goodbye. I asked him if this is all was worth it. He told me he didn't know, but he is sticking to his plan. He is looking out for himself and making sure he is going to do something with his life, not end up like the average person.

I think we can all understand Sam's feelings. During this life you will come to a point where you must make decisions and you will face sacrifice. I have no advice in facing sacrifice.

I have had my share of it, and I am no master. Even Sam could not know what lies ahead of all the inevitable choices in life. We can only do like Sam and keep our eyes on where we want to be.

If sacrificing those trips to the bar or those nights sitting watching TV with friends, it is something that must be done. One day you might just turn around and find yourself right where you want to be and those times of sacrifice might just pay off.

For Sam's case and my own, I truly hope so.