Thinking about the biggest decision I’ll make in my entire life is killing me, which is why I wrote this article.

I’m not usually one to remain sad for any length of time, but this semester was an exception. Prior to January, I still felt like a child. Sure, I had bills to pay and a place of my own, but I still had the “world is my oyster” mindset. This semester, however, I painted myself into a corner.

Now I realize what is meant by that oyster phrase. The world may be …

I sat in the empty classroom watching the clock as a welcome breeze wafted through the open window. Something big was about to happen. I had been giving this lots of thought, so how could I be wrong? I had made up my mind, or so I thought.

Before the economy tanked, things seemed fine. A degree was a degree, right? Maybe then. Now, the economy is going to hell in a hand-basket. A history degree is neither an engineering degree nor a pre-professional degree. A history degree is nothing more than …

After months of rest from the last race, the gun fired yet again sometime in late August or early September. Like sprinters, we ran as fast as we could until we crossed the finish line. During our runs we expended all of our energy and ignored other interests.

Only a few of us made it to the podium. With another race coming in about a month, it is crucial to make the most of your academic offseason to reach your potential.

Equilibrium

Some people might call it “making a New Year’s resolution”, but …

It’s true; this is possible!

There are 168 hours in a week.

• Job 1 – 40 hours.
• Job 2 – 40 hours.
• Job 3 – 20 hours.
• School – 4 classes. (12 Credit Hours)
• 7 Days a week – 8 hours a night.

What a jam-packed, fun-filled week!

You work a little more than 14 hours a day with this plan; not too bad! You always have to be a little bit late to class, but it’s no big deal, right? You’re making money!

You leave class a little early every day or don’t even go at all, so that’s awesome. Class blows, right?

You often have to …

Shane Battier - As mature as it gets.

To get a little bit closer to being mature, take a look at the following 50 attributes and see if you can readily apply any of them.

As I’m only 21, these are about as close as I can get to explaining some broad characteristics of maturity.

There are surely many other aspects which I have not mentioned, but hopefully by the time I am 30 or so this list will double in my mind.

Please add your own thoughts as a comment, even if it is …

One of my major flaws is accepting differences in others.

The closer somebody gets to me, the more scrutinizing I become. The primary reason that I have difficulty with this is that I have set certain personal truths in stone that may or may not be held by others.

Let me give you a few examples; don’t take any of this politically.

• Be productive and desire only the best.
• Hard work merits leisure and not the other way around.
• Religion is horrible but in most cases spirituality is not.
• Intolerance should be used with discretion, such as for institutions like the Westboro Baptist Church.
• Racism is

…

The second half of a [man]’s life is made up of nothing but the habits he has acquired during the first half.
Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821 – 1881)

Quit doing things like you are dumb, because you aren’t. The foundation of a happy adult life is built on good habits. Many of the good habits you develop during your school years will stick for the rest of your life.

(When you finish this article, if you are up …

Sorry this one took so long, I’ve been very busy lately.

You and I both have heard that life isn’t fair since we were kids. It started with a simple “…but Billy’s mommy got him the toy, it isn’t fair” but then progressed to “…but I’m 17 years old! Billy’s mom let’s HIM stay out after midnight. It isn’t fair!”

The reply? “Too bad, life’s not fair.” You’ll encounter this same statement the rest of your life, so I think it is worth spending some time examining exactly why life isn’t fair.

Let’s start off with you being brought into this world. The …

NOTE: Search elsewhere if you are looking for advice on how to find a new roommate.

My best friend and I were roommates the first semester of college. Beforehand, we thought that we knew everything about each other. Unfortunately, living with somebody else for the first time is kind of like a new marriage – the honeymoon is interesting, but after that things go a bit sour.

When you live with your best friend, it is honestly much more difficult than a stranger. (When you have a fight with your best friend who do you bitch to, your Mom?) Since you are …

Nobody has to be a stranger. Whether or not you have a lot in common with somebody doesn’t matter. If you want to be friends with somebody, all you need to do is ask the following questions at the appropriate times. I put them in order as much as possible, but sometimes situations will arise where you need to mix them up.

I wish you the best of luck in building new friendships.

(After reading this article about friendship, read another friendship-related article about how hard it is to accept your friends’ differences.)

1. Would you mind giving me your contact info …