This seems familiar...

So the last few months I've been spending time preparing for and now doing a job search. With graduation just around the corner, I've been polishing up my resume, signing up to attend job fairs, and hitting the internet hard trying to find that perfect job. It's more work than I had anticipated, and I feel like looking for a job is about as challenging as actually working at a job.

But anyway, it got me thinking about my senior year of high school when I was doing a college search. Taking college visits, taking the SAT, and sending in applications were the big things 4 years ago for me. It's a lot of work and it may seem like more trouble than it's worth at times, but trust me when I say it's worth it. It's more than just a diploma that you can frame on your office wall someday, it's your life for the next 4(ish) years. And just like I'm not looking for a job just based on how much it pays, I would encourage you to not let price be the deciding factor for your college decision.

No matter where you end up going, make sure it is where you really want to be. Don't go somewhere just because you feel pressure from friends or family to attend a certain college or university. While it is important that you listen and let that influence your decision, you need to do what's right for you. Factors such as the institution's values and mission statement will tell you a lot about what that place is all about.

You can learn a lot about a place by talking to students, faculty, and staff. So I encourage you to take visits to several colleges/universities if you haven't already. Ask questions that are important to you about what you feel should be included in your college experience.

Anyway, that's all I have for you on that one. I've been in a "looking back over the last 4 years of my life" mood lately, so be prepared for more of that to come in the future.

But other than the job search, things have been going pretty well. I enjoyed the long weekend with Martin Luther King Jr. Day off of classes, and it gave me a chance to just relax a little bit. I have a feeling that a lot of the responsibilities I have this semester will be nearing an end by around the beginning of April, so the last month should be a lot of just hanging out with my friends and enjoying my last few weeks of college. I am definitely looking forward to that.

Well, it's off to bed for me. Until next time,

Scott