The week back from spring break can go two different ways usually. It's either really refreshing to be back at school doing classes because you've had a whole week to do other things. On the other hand spring break can be a teaser to summer and makes you only more anxious for summer to start when you come back to classes and school. Thankfully I feel more refreshed than anxious to be back. I can't believe that there are only a few weeks left of college. Last week was a blur so the rest of college is going to be like five or six blurs in succession. My fiance and I had an interview the other day and it went well. It's possible that we'll be working in Greeley so it will be nice to have a chance to continue a lot of our friendships with other people while working instead of taking classes.
To be honest, I'm surprised I'm as dedicated as I am to doing well in my classes my senior year. I think it's just the reality that I really want to graduate and if I don't pass my classes, I don't graduate. My classes aren't that hard which is good. There is one class thought that is by far the hardest I've had. It's really interesting. Theories of Personality. It's a psychology class. It's a class that requires a lot of dedicated studying. I don't mind it. It's worth it. It feels good to work that hard and see it pay off. The material is challenging too. It's hard to fully grasp it and that's what the teacher is asking of us. He's a great teacher too because he respects us so we can respect him too. Don't get the impression that this is rare here. It's not, a lot of teachers are good like him. This just happens to be one of the classes that stands out.

Spring break was last week and it was amazing. This blog isn't really about UNC, but life at UNC gives you lot's of opportunities to do things in places you've never been before. Lot's of people go with friends to lots of different locations and do lots of different things during spring break. Some just stay here in Greeley. I went with a group of about 40 people in the UNC campus group the Navigators to South Padre Island to team up with 700 other people. The island is one of the top spring break locations in the US and some 20,000 to 40,000 college students go there a week during spring break. We helped run a free van service till about 3am around the island so that the people wouldn't have to drive around drunk. We also gave out a few thousand pancakes outside one of the most popular bars on the island so that they could get some food in their stomach to balance out all the alcohol. It was such a cool opportunity and very intense. It gave a good perspective on the contrast between fun things to do in college and dangerous things to do in college. There was a lot of both there. Take care of yourself when you start college. The reality is that it can be really easy to get carried away with something and that has the potential to get out of control and hurt yourself, others, or both. It may mean you have to decide to do something other than what all your friends are doing that night, or it may mean you have to be bold and convince a friend to not do something they'll regret. I know you've heard this from other people, but I've seen this first hand and it's not just a cautionary thing. It's something you'll need to be mindful of your whole life. I hope all of you had a great spring break and thanks for reading. Take care!

Today I would like to emphasize the importance of locating and taking advantage of free food. In college you're going to be hungry, it's just how it is, and you're going to need food for that hunger, another fact of life. The nice thing about having as many students here as we do is that there are many events and activities that involve free food. College does cost money so anything that's free is usually good. Some things that are free are not good. For example, free punches, never take someone up on free punches. Same goes for free flu. If someone offers to give you the flu for free, don't do it. I know it sounds intriguing, but it's not fun. Anyway, lots of things that are free are really good. For example, free food. On campus there are BBQs, lunches, samples, charitable events, fundraisers, and sometimes people just giving out free food. The more you do this, the more you save. Right now I'm at work and I'm eating Skittles, Doritos, and cookies. Did I pay for any of these? No! How great! Just one of the many benefits of college. This is something you can practice at home.