When the world goes wrong – as it’s bound to do – who will you turn to? If you’re anything like myself, the first person you contact will be your father.

Though college can be a time when many lose touch with their fathers, keeping in contact and preserving your relationship can provide many benefits.

Regardless if you had the best upbringing from your father, or one that was less than perfect, chances are he can offer some sort of wisdom as you progress through your college days.

Unfortunately, the concept of fatherhood to our generation has become an unreliable authority figure to some.

“Father involvement including shared activities, time spent together, and father-child closeness has provided greater evidence that high-quality biological father involvement is beneficial for a range of child and adolescent socio-behavioral outcomes,” according to a journal article published by the Journal of Marriage and Family.

With the hustle and bustle of life, this concept is easy to lose sight of, but is incredibly important nonetheless.

Being a father is also perhaps one of the most thankless jobs one can have. That is why it is important to take advantage of weekends such as this one to show your appreciation for your father.

For some fathers, like my own, Dad’s Weekend also serves as a homecoming.

Whether it’s going to the football game, seeing the show at the coliseum or simply going out to dinner, cherish the time you spend with your father this weekend.

This year’s Dad’s Weekend represents the 85th anniversary of the event, according to WSU’s official athletic site.

The tradition is stronger now than it has ever been, as thousands of fathers will pour into the Palouse this upcoming weekend.

If your father is unable to make it into town for the weekend, give him a call and tell him you’re thinking of him.

“Fathers’ involvement in their children’s lives has been shown to have a positive effect on children and their well-being in many areas …” a study performed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services claims.

Some of the areas shown to have positive effects include higher levels of academic success as well as lower chance of substance abuse.

These positive effects don’t have to end while we are in college. Rather, we can use what fathers have to offer us now more than ever.

The unfortunate realty is that many students have an experience with their father that is not beneficial. For those students, Dad’s Weekend might seem like a harsh concept to accept.

While it can be easy to loathe this fact, think of the positive effects you can have on the next generation with a dedication to parenting excellence.

Perhaps one day you will be able to have the pleasure of visiting your child at WSU. Take advantage of this weekend and have fun with your father and everything WSU has to offer.

Philip Grossenbacher is a sophomore English education major from Lynwood. He can be contacted at 335-2290 or by [email protected]. The opinions expressed in this column are not necessarily those of the staff of The Daily Evergreen or those of The Office of Student Media.