Ask any college student in the country if being in college is difficult, and they’ll tell you that it certainly has its challenges, especially for those who live on the widely-popular ramen noodle diet.

But for all of the challenges that today’s college students have to deal with — challenges that can include hour on top of hour of studying for exams, writing ridiculously long research papers and finding enough money to by a 12-pack on Friday night — none of it compares to the common struggle that less fortunate individuals and families face on a daily basis: survival.

Take one stroll through any part of downtown Grand Rapids that isn’t near the Grand Valley State University Pew Campus or one round-trip ride on one of the downtown buses, and some of the things that you’ll see will really put things in perspective.

As college students, sure, we have our own struggles that we have to deal with, but it’s all in the process of building better futures for ourselves. We push on through college with the idea and belief that one day we’ll leave this school and go on to be successful politicians, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists and world-renowned scientists.

But while we worry about what finals we have to take or how we’re going to crank out an overnight literary reflection, there are people who have to consider where their next meal is going to come from or whether or not it’s better to go to prison than to spend another winter night on the Grand Rapids streets. There are parents out there right now who do not know how they’re going to feed their infant children. Real life problems.

We’ve all heard this speech from our parents at one point or another, but this is a time when we as students tend to blow our problems out of proportion, and it’s important that we keep things in perspective and appreciate the opportunity that college affords us, as well as extend a helping hand to those beaten down by life.

Aid doesn’t need to be extravagant, nor does it need to be in the form of money. Any of the countless organizations throughout Kent and Ottawa counties would appreciate even an hour of somebody’s time.

Most organizations don’t have a minimum donation level, and $5 or $10 can go a long way for a person, family or animal in need.

So the next time you pass by a Salvation Army bell ringer, plunk a few coins into the bucket. It may not seem like a lot, but to some people, your small sacrifice could make all the difference.