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By Diana Lalata, Class of 2017
I believe in Santa Claus. I believe in the power of Santa Claus to promote goodness in our everyday lives. I believe he knows “if we’ve been bad or good, so we should be good for goodness’ sake.” Although it seems almost childish to be a big believer in this folkloric figure as a college student, surprisingly, coming to college truly strengthened my belief in the idea of Santa Claus.
I came to college ecstatic to move into my dorm, despite the fact that my dorm room was also the equivalent to a jail cell: 15 feet by 15 feet, cinderblock walls, and a permanently locked window. I remember watching the two attractive fraternity guys carry my mini-fridge up to the third floor of my dorm while I sat back on the bench outside just taking in my surroundings: the sound of the stereo blaring 98.9 Louisville’s Top 40 Hits, the sight of the sparkling sand volleyball court just waiting for activity, and the smell marking the end of the summer and the start of a new chapter in life — one filled with dreams, spontaneity, and finally, freedom. I lived 18 years of my life under my parents’ watchful eye and finally I would be able to live without their strict supervision. I recognized that the stretch of freedom I desired for so long was ultimately a test of personal values. I could either let that freedom take advantage of me or I could use that freedom to my advantage. I chose the latter.
A few weeks ago, I was walking back to my dorm in the midst of an awful snow storm and spotted an elderly lady struggling to unpack several boxes of goodie bags out of her silver SUV and onto a small red wagon. The bags were spilling over onto the snow covered pavement and my first instinct was to ask if she needed any help. She paused, surprised that I offered to help, explaining that several students had passed by her without even giving her a second glance. She then proceeded to politely decline my offer but gave me one of the goodie bags as a token of gratitude.
I found it much more rewarding to do good things than to give into temptation or desire. The extra time in college gave me the freedom to do good things for the community: more time to volunteer, take friends out to lunch during my break, or even something as simple as writing a thank you note to someone to show my appreciation. Even without my parents closely watching me, I thought it best to do good things with the expectation that doing good will not only please Santa Claus and my parents, but also myself. I believe good deeds outweigh evil ones and that small acts of kindness place you on the “nice list” instead of the “naughty list.”
As Christmas quickly approaches and my Christmas radio station plays “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” for about the 7th time in the same day, I happily sing along with The Temptations, “Santa Claus is coming to town … He knows if you’ve been bad or good, so be good for goodness’ sake.” I am a proud believer of Santa Claus and the truth of the lyric: Be good for goodness’ sake. This I believe.
Diana Lalata, of Jefferson County, Ky., is a freshman at the University of Louisville. She is studying English and political science.