Know your AGGIES, before it’s too late.

When we step onto the historic grounds of NC A&T, you think of making our own mark. We think of graduating and gearing up for your first and last homecoming as a student. During new student convocation, the speaker often says, “look to your left and your right. One of the people sitting next to you will not be here when you graduate.”  Little do we know the person sitting next to us would not be present during graduation because of death.

Since I have been a student at A&T, we lose an Aggie every year due to an unexpectant death. Dennis Hayle, a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and a rising senior was shot and killed. Jasmine Goins was killed in a car accident in February. Most recently, Classie R. Faulkner, Jr., died on Saturday, March 22nd. Faulkner was a senior psychology student.

Losing any person to a death is tragic, whether if you knew the person or not. It is important to build long lasting relationships in college. Saying hello to someone in passing or talking to a classmate could go a long way. You never know the next time you will be able to see that person.

Building relationships with people can also allow you to be more personable and diverse in the future. It saddens me to hear about the passing of a student. It saddens me even more when I know the person who passed. It is important that we communicate more often. You never know when you can make someone’s day, or do something to help someone.

Before transferring to A&T, I attended Fayetteville State University. Since leaving FSU, I know of at least four people who have passed. On top of being saddened by the tragedy, I was disheartened that I did not talk to them more often to create unforgettable memories.

 Losing a person at any age, gender, or race to death is a tragedy. Death seems to hit hard when it comes unexpectedly or to a younger person.

We should speak to our fellow classmates more often, hold conversations with people we do not necessarily talk to, and build our character to communicate with others more frequently. Do not wait too late before you are courteous to others, it can go a long way.

—Email Tremayne at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @theatregister

• Tremayne Farmer, Contributor