I wish I would have kept track of how many times someone gave me the "college isn't high school" speech in the last few years of my life.

From high school guidance counselors to professors here at Penn State, everyone keeps telling me that I shouldn't have to be treated like a kid anymore. I'm a grown up, and I have to be responsible for my own well-being.

So ... out of curiosity ... why is Penn State still making me take gym class?

I thought that was a high school thing. I thought it had something to do with the state mandating that students had to have so much physical activity in a week or something.

I thought no one was going to hold my hand in college. No one was going to lead me in the right direction. No one was going to help me stay afloat.

Mostly, they were telling the truth, but Penn State still has a few mandates to help us adjust in our new, responsible roles.

And a lot of what they help us do makes sense. We are required, as full-time students, to take a certain number of general education credits. These credits are designed to give us a wide educational experience so that we graduate as well-rounded individuals. A little sculpture, a little feminism, a little psychology and a little physics and now I, as a student, have the ability to tell you the socio-psychological impact of the statue of David on the development of women as airplane pilots.

I guess it's supposed to work something like that.

But wait -- what about that other little guy tagging along. The three credit health and physical activity requirement.

Where does that fit in?

Am I supposed to be able to base my graduate work on the time I spent fitness walking? Are my prospective employers going to look at my A in kayaking and hire me on the spot?

I doubt it -- and I suppose that isn't really the reason we're supposed to be taking GHA classes anyway. I understand that. What harm is there in teaching a little healthy well-being. We are the fattest nation in the world -- someone has to do something about that.

Is it really Penn State's job though? If you look around here on campus, how many unhealthy people do you see? Truly unhealthy.

OK, ignore the people like me who spend too much time inside sitting on their butt, now how many unhealthy people do you see?

We are not a cross-section of the country. We are "the elite" (so we are told), so why is it that we have to have a babysitter tell us to eat our vegetables and do our sit-ups?

As individuals, we are all supposed to be intelligent enough to decide what is and isn't right for our health and well-being, and I can't help but feel like Penn State is trying to hold on to some of the high school mentality by keeping the GHA credits, unlike every other Big Ten school.

I'm an adult. I can smoke, I can (almost) drink legally, and I can be fat if I want to.

Not to mention how difficult it is to schedule the stupid classes. We are only required to take 3 credits worth, but because they come in odd increments (.5 and 1.5 credits, respectively) it is really easy to waste a credit hour on a jogging class.

I commend Penn State for trying to develop some interesting GHA curriculum (such as ballroom dancing, yoga and juggling) but most of the time, because of super-seniors and honors students, you get stuck with something like "Food Facts and Fads" -- a three hour a week exploration into the wonderful world of the "impact on society and the individual of modern food technology, food laws, additives, etc."

Is that really worth your time? Your money? You are supposed to be here getting an education -- that is what you are paying for.

I don't know about you, but I really don't want to blow a grand or two on a class that tells me how french fries are going to be cooked in the future.

If I want to learn how to ski, then that should be up to me. I shouldn't have to step into any class resentfully because it is outside of my major and altogether a waste of my time. It isn't fair to me, and it isn't fair to the professor.

I appreciate Penn State looking out for me, I really do, but it's about time I got out of high school already. I'm done with gym class, and although I had a blast playing coed volleyball (me as a ninth grader -- senior girls jumping up and down -- I know you're with me on this one) it is time I focus on what I'm here to do: Get an education, my $70,000 piece of paper and a job.

I think it is about time the GHA credits go back to high school. They fit in better there. At this point in our lives, we are all pretty much set in our ways. We've learned about puberty, we know we are eating unhealthy foods and we know how to shoot a jump shot.

I don't need gym class. We don't need gym class. Honest. Next time you feel like you need to get your jollies out, go outside and throw a Frisbee around. Go for a jog. Roll down a hill. Green grass and fresh air doesn't cost you anything.

I'm pretty sure we can all handle that. We're responsible adults, now. No more hand-holding. No more high school. We are responsible enough to drive cars, have sex and drink booze -- I think it's safe to say, we'll all be A-OK skipping out on gym class.