“I’m through with standing in line to clubs we’ll never get in. It’s like the bottom of the ninth, and I’m never gonna win…”The song comes on the radio, and I cringe as I reach to change the station. This song, “Rockstar,” by Nickelback, is more than I can handle. Whether meant to be taken seriously or not, it reveals some truth about our society. A sad truth.

“I want a brand new house on an episode of Cribs, and a bathroom I can play baseball in…”

Materialism permeates American culture. I’ve gotten caught up in it. We all have.

Having stuff – having the most stuff, the best stuff – is a vicious cycle.

I’ve learned a lot in college, but one lesson I’ve learned is the importance of having designer clothes and accessories. Though college is supposed to be an education in academics, and it definitely has been that, it has also been an education in designer brands. Kate Spade handbags. Seven jeans. Chanel sunglasses. A status symbol, an image. I enjoy the occasional splurge, but really, when is enough enough?

“I want a new tour bus full of old guitars. My own star on Hollywood Boulevard, somewhere between Cher and James Dean is fine for me…”

Ambitions.

Dreams.

We’re all driven by something, we all have a story of where we come from and where we want to go. I had dreams of being famous and having a lot of money, but now I know that regardless of money, I want to have a job I love, and I want to go to sleep every night, satisfied with who I am and what I’m doing with my life. The key is following our dreams, but not getting so caught up in them that nothing else matters.

“Cause we all just wanna be big rockstars, and live in hilltop house, driving 15 cars. The girls come easy and the drugs come cheap…”

People are naturally drawn to instant gratification and frustrated when things don’t come easily. It’s an idea rampant in our society, but it also is unrealistic most of the time. I know I get caught up in wanting things now and wanting it all, but I know I could have all the things in the world right now and there would always be the desire for more.

“I’m gonna trade this life for fortune and fame, I’d even cut my hair and change my name.”

As corny as it may sound, college is a time of finding ourselves and establishing our identity, who we are going to be for the rest of our lives. Figuring that out is an adventure.

And maybe, some of us really will be rockstars.

This song encompasses the dream so many people have — the dream of being famous and having everything. Yet, to me, the life this song depicts seems empty.

I know it’s definitely not true in all cases, but learning from the tabloid-covered lives of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, the rockstar life isn’t so carefree.

“Hey, hey, I wanna be a rockstar.”

Jillian Hutchison is a junior news-editorial journalism major from Omaha, Neb.