Last September, I was reading on my futon in Tokyo, when my host father knocked on the door and pantomimed the gestures for plane, TV, trouble. I missed out on all of the revitalized patriotism that flared during those following months back in the United States. When I left Japan and returned to America, it seemed as if I had come home to a completely different country. It just sort of "grew up" while I was away.

Or had it? While I, too, enjoy the sight of a good American flag, I'm disappointed when people act as if decorating is the best they can do. It's a shame we can't emblazon our education on our front lawns or cling it to the rear window of our car. Perhaps we'd notice room for improvement more easily if we could.

Alexander Solzhenitsyn's words have become my mantra: "Own only what you can carry with you: know languages, know countries, know people."

And in such internationally significant times, it's more important than ever that students closely scrutinize what they're doing to open their eyes.

The edification of one's mind is a proactive pursuit. Study abroad. Register for stimulating courses. Introduce yourself to an exchange student. Develop well-informed opinions. Get a conversation partner at Boucke. At the very least, read a paper (and the crossword doesn't count).

But most importantly, ask yourself: When I leave Penn State, will I have a degree? Or will I have an education?