And I am happy to report that Penn State is responsible for the biggest chunk of my knowledge. But I didn't learn most of this in the classroom. In the year and a half since coming to this university, I have matured and learned huge life lessons that will stay with me forever.

All of my lessons were learned through experience, and they are ones I am not soon to forget. For example, don't wash a white shirt with red socks. Don't microwave styrofoam containers. Don't put off a 20-page paper until the night before it's due. Beer before liquor never sicker, or something like that.

Most importantly, however, I've learned that life doesn't always turn out the way you plan.

When I was younger, I remember teachers repeating the adage "The best laid plans run aground in practice." To some, this is an accepted truth of life. However, for me, it fell on deaf ears. It took losing a lot and starting over before this phrase sunk in.

I am about to share a fact that few know about me and some would be embarrassed to reveal if in the same situation. I'm from State College, and I live at home -- with my parents. In the house I grew up in. I commute to the university every day. Usually carpooling with my dad.

I started my Penn State career in the dorms in fall of 1997 and loved it. Obviously, I didn't plan or expect to move home and become a "day hop" as my father so affectionately refers to me now. I just moved home this semester.

In fact, just last semester, I lived in a really nice apartment, conveniently located close to campus, downtown and nightlife.

It's a long complicated story about how and why I moved out -- it's not really important, anyway. Even when I was younger, I never thought, at the age of 19, I would still be living with my parents, but I am. In any case, my life has become a prime example of life not turning out as planned.

My living space isn't the only thing that has done a 180 from my original life agenda. Actually, since leaving high school, nothing is my life has remained the same. During graduation, I remember looking around The Bryce Jordan Center and thinking I would be friends with everyone there forever.

Neither school, nor distance, nor new friends could keep me from having many more good times with the same people I had spent the last four years with.

Boy, was I in for a shock.

Even though people told me over and over again that life would be very different in college, I didn't listen. I was convinced my class was close enough to remain that way forever. The only thing that would change is the location of the school, I thought. I didn't realize what a big difference the scenery would make, even though Penn State is close to home.

Certainly, my life today is not the same as it was as a high school senior at State College. In fact, I hang out with very few people from high school. With the exception of a few, the people I consider my friends are from all over the place, including Philadelphia, New York and Colorado.

It's true some people still hang out with all the people did from high school. And this is not just State High people, but people from all over the place. They do the same things they did in high school, talk about high school and basically relive those four years of their lives. I remember vowing never to be caught in the "13th grade," and I think I have done a good job avoiding this fate.

I would be lying if I said college hasn't been a really hard ordeal. I've lost my best friends and basically have had to start over. It's very scary to suddenly not have the security of a circle of friends who unconditionally stand behind you. Even though I'm not really friends with anyone from high school anymore, I don't blame anyone for it. It's no one's fault -- it's just the way life works out.

On a happier note, even though I didn't plan my college career this way, surprisingly, it has turned out for the best. I am having a great time with my new college friends.

As far as the living conditions go, it is pretty cool too. My parents allow me to still have my freedom and a life and yet they treat me like an adult. All and all, life is good.

In the future, thanks to my newfound knowledge, I promise myself to attack life a little differently. Planning is a necessary evil, but I'll try not to forget to leave myself open to alter the plan a little bit to fit certain circumstances.

Even though none of my new knowledge has been gained in a classroom, I guess considering everything, the huge amounts of money my parents pay for me to attend this university are worth it.