I'm truly amazed with myself. At 8am, I was awake. Of course, I had class at 1015, but still.

College is weird. I'm at Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City, MI. Its a community college, but better. Actually no. Its not better. I'm living at home with my parents, as are all my friends that decided to stay in TC. It's odd that I'm so heartbroken over friends that have left, when only three have. My best friend Jim, Keebz (Andrew), and then-girlfriend, Annemarie.

It might just be that the people that left happened to be the ones I was closest with (Anne and Jim) or it might be that I just really want to leave and am taking out my frustrations on that they left, and I still haven't. Don't get me wrong, more of my friend have left, but not ones that really matter or make a significant difference in my life.

I have been having these feelings of regret lately about schooling. During my senior year, I didn't bother to turn in any applications to any colleges until, oh.... Easter. And for those of you that have gone through this, you know. Easter is not a time to turn in applications to your top chopice schools, hoping to get in. After summer and the beginning of August, I began to realize my only hope was NMC. I mean, I had been accepted to Grand Valley, Saginaw Valley, Central Michigan, and Western Michigan, but those were not the schools I wanted. I was hoping for either Alma or Michigan State University.

Now, after the first semester of school at NMC, I started applying to Alma and State. I visited both schools, and I liked Alma more than State, so I told the State reps. that I had decided on Alma until my graduate program, which I would like to be at MSU. Upon visiting Alma, I had the counselors immediate attention. I loved the school, she loved me, and my grandes we even good enough to get me in. I had been unformally acepted to Alma. I was so excited. I told everyone. Then came the important day... getting my formal acceptance in the mail. I was kind of scared to open it. I had talked with the Alma people and told them of my money troubles and that the school was very expensive (about 30k a year). Well, when I finally got the courage to open my letter, I was accepted. AND... I had a $5000 scholarship. AND... If I got a certain GPA, I would get more money, 3.0 would get $3500, 3.5, $5000, and 4.0, $7500. I waited until after my first semester was over, and realized that I had gotten a 3.5, and as a result, I had ten thousand dollars waiting for me off of Almas tuition. The only thing was that I had to go there for the Spring 2004 semester to get the first $5000 scholarship. After talking it over with my dad, he (not I, but HE) decided that I couldn't go. It was too much money, so I should stay at NMC for another semester.

So now, Here it is, second day of classes, second semester, at... NMC. It sucks. I hate it here, not only to mention the school, the professors and students, but the fact that its in Traverse City also. My point in going somewhere for school was that I'd not only get a better education from a better establishment, but I'd also be away from home. And thats why I'm looking for somewhere to go for summer.

Once again, my ideas:

1. Massachussets to work for all summer.
2. Sunrise Resort, in CT, to work for all summer.
3. Ireland for one month, then home in TC for two months of work.
4. Stay home and hang out with my friends, but not really because I'd be working the whole time.

This issue has been plaguing me for a while and I just would like to say its nice to be able to get online and voice my opinion about absolutely nothing. Yeah, Its a good feeling to be able to rant my concerns and problems to a group of complete and total strangers. And I'd just like to say, thanks for listening. (Atleast I think you're listening...)

Well, Its time for class now.
Lots more much ado about nothing later.
--Joe