•   News  
• Business
• Entertainment
• Pics
• Blogs
• Sports
• Obits
• Redskins
• Real Estate
• Classifieds
• Jobs
• Search Local
• Shop
• Bride & Groom

It is weird to think that this is no longer home.

About two weeks ago, I referred to my dorm room as home.

Then, I called Fredericksburg home.

And, I realized that things have changed significantly.

This time last year, I was worried about where I was going to end up in the Fall 2005 semester. And now, in that semester, I'm stuck in an entirely different mind-set.

It seems completely bizarre to me that at age 18 I should be deciding on a career that I shall make into the rest of my life. But that seems to be the present case.

When we're younger, we dream about the future. Our aspirations stem from ideals, not information.

For a large part of my childhood, I wanted to be a dentist. I'm not sure why. I always liked going to the dentist, so it seemed fitting.

Then, I wanted to be a lawyer. And some years after giving up on the thought of being a dentist, I was told that they have to practice pulling teeth on cadavers and was more relieved that I'd set that ambition on the far back burner.

As of late, I've realized that I have the mind-set of a child.

I want to do everything.

I want to accomplish so much.

I can't pick one particular profession. I can see so many great possibilities with each one that comes to mind.

I'd like to become a lawyer. I'd need time to go to law school.

I'd like to become a doctor, but that means even more school.

On top of that, I'd like to be a teacher.

There is so much that I'd like to do with my life.

I want to help, inspire, cure diseases and learn as much as possible.

After only my first semester, I don't think four years is enough time to be in college.

That's barely scratching the surface on knowledge.

For some people, four years is far too long of a time to take seriously to graduate.

For others, an entire lifetime isn't enough to absorb all that they want to know.

Learning is a constant process--although I'm terrified that one day it's going to stop altogether.