This University is built on the foundation of three things: Saturday tailgates, Chick-fil-A breakfast in The Union and Tiger Trails.
Every student will benefit from the angel that is Tiger Trails at some point in their college career. With parking lots found few and far between and the inevitable road rage caused by students fighting over limited spots to get to class in time, Tiger Trails has been there through thick and thin. Though the bus may sometimes be late, full or just uncomfortable, it has been of great value to the students.
Tiger Trails would not function as well as it does without the countless hours the bus drivers spend driving the routes. Time after time, disgruntled students run off the bus in a hurry without thanking the drivers. Many of the drivers will take the time to individually wish students a great day, only for them to close the doors, with no response. Some students do not hesitate to throw their granola bar wrapper on the floor or leave their trash on the seats for the drivers to clean up.
Driving thousands of students around campus and Baton Rouge is a huge responsibility and takes a skill set most of us do not posses. Driving gigantic busses is hard and not at all like driving a normal car. The bus drivers have to deal with controlling a big vehicle, rude drivers and schedules, but always take the time to send students off with, “Have a good day!”
Students need to make more of an effort to be thankful toward the bus drivers every day. They work so hard for us and make getting to campus and class on time much easier. Without Tiger Trails, I can’t even begin to imagine how much of a mess campus would be. As young adults, it should already be instilled within our personalities and habits to thank people who do things for you – unfortunately, this is not the case.
We need to be held accountable for when we are rude, dismissive or unappreciative. The same students who treat the hard working bus drivers and others everywhere poorly, are the same students the University is sending out into the world to represent our school. Something needs to change with how we treat each other, on and off campus. We are not entitled to an education, to these great opportunities or even to this bus service. Students should reflect on how lucky we are to attend a university that cares about its students.
Tiger Trails and the bus drivers themselves deserve to be thanked, appreciated and acknowledged for the roll they play in us receiving our diplomas.
Casey Pimentel is a 19-year-old mass communication major from The Woodlands, Texas.
