Home

Me and my buddy Al, who is on my team, were sitting in the library getting ready for finals and whatnot so I felt like this was the appropriate time to let you all know that we won. I know most of you do not really care, but we're pretty proud of our accomplishment, so I'm going to brag a little.

Anyways, besides that nothing that new has been going on with me. I did celebrate my birthday the other day. Birthdays are usually fun right? Wrong, my birthday consisted of me driving four hours on a Monday to Fargo, North Dakota.

However, besides that I guess I can't really complain. I'm sure all of you high school students out there are just itching to get out of the house, and let me tell you a couple things about that.

Sure, it's amazing leaving the nest, but just remember me saying this. You will miss your free meals, free gas, or whatever else you take for granted at home. It's a whole new world out here but trust me, you will make the right decision on where you're going, you will enjoy it, and all those countless hours spent at home, school, etc., worrying about what you were going to do with the next four years of your life will be well worth it.

While I was sitting at home, in my great big comfortable bed, I'm not going to lie I did not have much to do. Unlike being at college, everything was being taken care of for me. That got me to thinking about why I chose to come to the University of Minnesota.

I mean most of my friends stuck around at home, and my family, welll that was a different story, they were ready for me to go far far away, and learn what it was like to be completely on my own. In the end though it came down to what I wanted.

There were many things the University of Minnesota had that I wanted. I absolutely was thrilled about being so close to the city. Coming from North Dakota I could not wait to experience Dinkytown, the Metrodome, Mariucci Arena, etc. Obviously knowing the University was one of the top institutions in the nations also swayed me to come here.

Location, location, location...I loved the fact that the University was close enough where I could drive home whenever I wanted to, but also it was far enough away where I met new people, I was on my own, and most importantly felt a little uncomfortable. It was time to grow up. I was scared but being here really helped me.

This campus and the staff here are in my mind the best at teaching students how to grow up without having somebody hold their hand but also without letting them fall flat on their face. I have always felt like one of the most important things to learn in life is how to be independent. This institution has helped me do that, while at the same time letting me learn about things I enjoy, and having fun doing things I love. My advice to you is, think about what you want. Don't worry you'll make the right decision, I have no doubt in my mind that I did.