When I was in sixth grade, I attended my teacher’s wedding.

We classmates were giddy with excitement waiting for the ceremony to begin.

I remember how beautiful she looked and how my eyes welled up when she walked down the aisle.

We even got to help celebrate the evening by eating, dancing and drinking Shirley Temples.

Participating was a memorable experience and a great demonstration of what love was before I went off looking for it.

I learned many lessons. I learned that marriage is a confirmation of love.

Love becomes public. It is powerful. I discovered what it meant to care for someone and to show compassion.

On Saturday in California, some first graders were also guests at their teacher’s wedding.

They scattered rose petals, blew bubbles, and joyfully celebrated. They shared smiles and hugged their teachers with love.

These children were lucky, like I was, to be able to witness the love of their teacher in a setting larger than the school.

Just like I did in sixth grade, these students were able to learn lessons of love. The difference is that the couple that was married were the same sex.

The lessons from both weddings, from all weddings, no matter your stance on same sex marriage, are clear. Love conquers all.

Love is true. Love is real. The love must bring about positive results within the marriage and should serve as a guide for how we should also care for the world. Love must make a positive difference throughout the world, and this goes way beyond married couples.

Love can make changes. Love is larger than the material world. It is any act that brings us outside of ourselves. Or, as theologian Thomas Jay Oord says, to love is to “act intentionally, in sympathetic response to others, to promote overall well-being.”

The opposite of love is what more of us are hearing these days from politicians, news commentators, talk radio, etc.

People shouting “kill him!” when John McCain referred to Barack Obama at a recent McCain rally is the most recent example.

Even with our political differences, this attitude is not only vile, but also hurtful and will bring no steps towards progress.

When voting this November, vote for the well-being of others and not just yourself.

This is practicing love. Let me repeat myself, think about this — don’t just brush it under the rug.

You have to think about more than just how your vote will affect you personally.

Now this isn’t just a sing-song, flowers in your hair, hippie message of love.

This is real and attainable.

No real positive change can occur in life without loving and caring for those who need it the most.

Washington policy made for any other reason is bad policy. Policies that only benefit those of us already doing well enough for ourselves aren’t going to end poverty, or reverse global warming, or effectively tackle any serious problem this world faces. Only when we sacrifice of ourselves to help the less fortunate do we make any headway.

Let’s face it Iowa State. No matter our major, no matter our age, we are here to learn love.

The love of the land, people, animals and yourself. Your degree and your passion for helping others through your degree instills this in you.

Everyone wants a better overall well being, and implementing a more loving and caring lifestyle is the best way to do this.

Love may be hard to attain, but it is important and necessary to better this world.