Drew Ritchie, senior Biblical text major from Lake Jackson.

Often when people talk about what makes ACU such a special place, they talk about the people they encounter. I am grateful for my education from ACU, but the greatest part of my ACU experience has been the lives that have become a part of my story.

I am sure all of us can picture people at ACU who have shaped our lives, and although it seems like an eternity ago, there was one day when you met those people for the first time. At one point or another, you introduced yourself to the people who are now your friends, mentors and people who feel like family.

So here is my point, my piece of advice that I felt was worth being said: remember people’s names.

I realize not everyone has the same abilities to remember information as easily, but I don’t think anyone should ever be allowed to say, “I am not good at remembering people’s names.”

When you meet someone and forget their name, you are admitting that you didn’t care enough about that person when you met them to remember their name. Remembering someone’s name tells him or her that they mattered to you.

I know I’ve met a lot of people and forgotten their name immediately after, but I hope that I do a good job of asking people’s names the next time I see them.

I could tell you about how remembering people’s names will improve your networking skills, help you land a job or make you more popular, but the simple fact is people deserve to have their names remembered because they are people. Remembering a person’s name is a simple way of acknowledging they exist and hopefully making them feel like they matter.

“What’s in a name?” Shakespeare asks. Personally, I think a lot.

I will be getting my diploma in less than 10 days, and it is impossible to avoid thinking about how much ACU has meant to me. While I can’t say enough good things about my education here, ACU’s true impact on this chapter of my life has been the people who I have met here. From professors to roommates, countless people have made this place special.

Even though each one of these people started out as just a name to me, now they are a piece of my story.

Drew Ritchie is a graduating senior biblical text major from Lake Jackson.