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Miho, you should start every column with 'Dear Diary,'" my friend said after reading one of my columns, rolling his eyes with an expression that screamed "I'm not impressed." While I appreciated his honesty, his comment stung. All I could do was mumble, "Well, what would you want me to write about?"

He rambled off a list of his soapbox topics, including cliquey Asians and diversity retreats like Common Ground, two topics over which we argue over and always disagree. And while most of the time he mainly argues for the sake of arguing, I knew his "Dear Diary" comment wasn't thrown in my direction just to see how I would react. He genuinely doesn't like my columns, and he is probably the only friend who is honest enough to tell me to my face.

In a way, I appreciate his "I don't care what you think" attitude because otherwise I would not have re-read all the columns that I have ever written and done some real self-assessment. Still, when I explained that the purpose of my column, entitled discere vivendo (learning through living), was to capture my personal experiences as your average Duke student, he responded with a mocking yawn. I laughed, in part because I knew he was being himself, but also because I couldn't do anything to convince him to like my column. He is my biggest critic, and I'm secretly happy that he is the only one that I know of personally.

Yet, while the rest of my friends are supportive of writing, at least to my face, I know they also roll their eyes and give countless "I'm not impressed" expressions while reading other columns, which probably means they do it sometimes while reading my column too. Honestly, I used to respond to the opinions in the back two pages of this newspaper in the exact same way. The main reason I applied last year to be a columnist was because I thought I could write better material than several of the previous year's columnists. I didn't consider myself a writer then (and still don't now), but I knew I had opinions to share, and I didn't mind expressing them.

Granted, as a columnist I can't expect to make everyone happy. However, despite what the vocal anti-Chronicle column minority says, columns aren't always a 700-word waste of space. After my last column "Play on," where I complained about the lack of music practice rooms on West Campus, an administrator who works with the president on the arts at Duke contacted me to have a meeting with him. I know other columnists who have had similar successes of outreach after articulating their opinions on ways to improve the community. This space can work if used appropriately.

Regardless of whether you love or loathe my column, though, I fully acknowledge that there are several of you out there who can utilize this space much better than I will ever be able to. I ask you now to make the change that you want to see.

The application deadline for a Spring 2006 columnist position has been extended to Dec. 2, four days from today. I urge every one of you that has ever had the "I can do better" thought cross your mind to fill out an application and submit a 700-word sample piece. To those that frequently write letters to the editor, to those who miss reading controversial columns and to those who feel like they aren't being represented in this space, prepare your application. Frankly, I'd like to see columns by freshmen, Pratt students, Duke Student Government (exec) members and strong, opinionated women, both greek and independent. I'd also like to read a regular humor column that is completely separate from Monday, Monday that is, well, actually humorous.

I disagree with those students who foolishly believe that creating controversy is the key to good columns. However, I do recognize that there are students in our community who are frustrated with this semester's work and who can do a better job as a columnist than I can.