03/01/04– While going through college, most of us will decide whether or not we are going to go to graduation school to pursue a master’s or other advanced degree. For me, I most certainly will be going to grad school. Or will I? I have every intention of returning to school in two years when I have saved some money, bought a house, etc. But what if I establish my career and find it too inconvenient to go back school, or what if I decide to get married and have kids (shudder). I can’t imagine myself 30 years old without an advanced degree. But I can also see myself doing something stupid like starting a family. Other hurdles could come up and there’s no way to tell what I will be thinking in several years. As for right now, I can only hope for the best. 02/27/04– Like most students, I have always known I was going to attend college. My mother went, my father went, I was going too. I had always looked forward to it and I knew I would do my best to make the most of it. It is debatable that I have made the best of it, but I have never taken it for granted. I know far too many people who are going to school because it is what their parents wanted them to do, because they wanted to avoid the “real world” for a little longer, or because they had no other plans. Most in this category take college very lightly. This is probably my biggest pet peeve. They cheat on exams, beg for extra credit, and are full of excuses for everything. This is especially terrible in a class where much group work is involved, because then it directly affects me. I had one semester where I would have had staright A’s, but because of two of these slackers failing our project, I got a B-. I have had enough guys, seriously. Get with it or get out. 02/26/04– I have been able to observe the next generation of student in my major, as I am retaking a core class to improve my GPA. I have to say that I am thoroughly disappointed. Perhaps my friends that I have gone through the last few years of classes with is a unique group, being so closely knit, but I had hoped that we were to be proceeded by a similar class. While there will always be at least one person in a class who irritates everyone else, I can already see that there several in the new generation of students. Perhaps it is just one or two and the rest are all just followers, but it makes me really sad (not to mention annoyed) to hear all of the asinine comments and conversation of my young peers. No, these are not freshmen, they are upperclassmen or at least sophomores. Freshman are another topic entirely. I feel sorry for my professors who are going to have these students in their classes and I only wish for another wonderful, bright, witty, and studious group like my own to come along again soon.02/25/04– I was recently reminded that, although I will soon be finished with school, I will still be working. Not only will I still have a job, but it will be the only thing I do, no longer broken up by classes and homework. Sure, I will have more time to learn to water ski and take cooking classes, but will I actually do it? Will I spend less time with my friends? Will I get married and have 4 kids? Is that what the “real world” is all about? I certainly hope not.