As I look forward to graduating in May, I feel bombarded with decisions. Some are big decisions, such as where to go to graduate school. Others have smaller repercussions but affect people outside myself, such as who to hire to take over my job next semester. Other decisions are as mundane as whether I should hang out with friends tonight or read those last ten pages of Nietzsche before class. After struggling with indecision for much of my life, I have learned a lot about satisfying and effective decision-making. I have learned even more about what not to do when[…]

Eager for a sunny spot by the window, I asked to sit with two female, traditional students in the cafeteria one day. From their glances, I gathered they possibly felt awkward about my sharing their table. Perhaps they thought I was a staff member. Feeling out of the norm is uncomfortable. On the days when loneliness stabs deep and isolation tempts, that’s when we non-trads need to get out of our bubble of self. It’s the only way to fight that yucky feeling of being … odd. Try these: (Because I do.) Compliment someone. Pick anything: the shoes-laces, unicorn-umbrella, Star[…]

One of the greatest temptations we, as humans, commit is to compare ourselves to others. Our human nature, in essence, is to be prideful. We compete against each other in every way possible, from grades to relationships to careers to status. I too dismiss others and make myself the center of my life. I guess I haven’t yet listened when my father always said, “Justus, someone will always be better than you.” Hearing those words growing up, I immediately had resentment thinking, “I’ll prove him wrong; I’ll be the best at something.” American culture especially is very individualistic and selfish.[…]