In high school I kept busy. I took dance classes four days a week, was a member (and eventually editor) of my high school yearbook, served on the regional board for my youth group, took numerous AP classes, tutored at the middle school and worked long into the night to keep up my GPA.

Looking back, I don’t know how I did it all without serious drugs; I was crazy. But, at the time, I knew exactly what I had to do to set myself apart from everyone else in my class in order to get into my first choice college.

I know I wasn’t alone alone. I’m sure there are many people reading this right now and thinking, “Yup. Same story for me…except I was also on the tennis and softball teams!” We all did what we had to do. With more kids applying to college than ever before, the competition was fierce; what other choice did we have?

Then there were the unfortunate ladies (and I know there are lots of you) that are reading this and thinking to themselves, “That is all you did? I was also class president and helped the starving children in Somalia and still didn’t get into my #1!”

I feel for you guys, I really do. And if you happen to be one of those bitter students who did all that work and was forced to go to your second choice school, stop reading now because you are going to get pissed. Read More »

Yesterday was my last day of classes– at 3:15 p.m., the year was over. Kind of. My professor thought it was, at least– he bid us adieu by saying, “Okay, then! Have a nice life!”

I wish. Regretfully, my life cannot really start until after this professor’s 3 hour, 3 essay final exam in two weeks.

If we were in grade school, we would be eating popsicles and going down the slip and slide right now. But for us, it is when classes end that the work really begins with finals. Perhaps the system could benefit from some reorganization, no? Springtime finals are just begging for you to fail them.

Sometimes, in order to escape finals purgatory, I daydream about the future, when I’m out of college and have a really sweet job doing something really cool for a ton of money. But then I came across this article in the Chronicle of Higher Education. Read More »