Those little Penn State planners -- you know the ones I'm talking about? There is a new one each year in the bookstore, designed to keep you super-organized throughout the chaos of school. They say Penn State on the front or have a PSU logo. You can't miss them.

There is the calendar, the address book and the space to mark special events like birthdays. Who ever came up with the idea is probably rich.

I'll admit it. I go crazy when I can't find my planner. I have every little thing marked in there. Without my planner, I would not know my homework assignments, nor what days I had to work at the Collegian, nor the days I had to tutor in the writing center.

Basically, I'd be running around like a lost little girl, and it wouldn't be pretty.

My planner has my whole life in it and I am scheduled to the extreme.

Take my typical Wednesday for example: Classes 9:05-12:05; lunch with my roommate in West until about 1; back to the room to do homework and/or errands; night desk at the Collegian 4:15 p.m.-1 a.m.; then immediately to bed so I can wake up for my early class the next day.

My roommate has gotten used to the phrase, "Ok, I'll see you tomorrow," after we finish lunch because she knows I won't be home until after 1 in the morning. Then it all starts over again, with a few variations.

And I won't vary from the schedule. I always do my homework during the time between lunch and copy desk.

I always go to the gym on certain days and I will always work at the Collegian on the same days. And orchestra practice is always Tuesday night from 8 to 9:15.

When something gets changed, it throws off my whole day. When someone asks if I can do something, I immediately get the planner out of my bag to see if I am available. Trying to schedule dinner with friends can be an incredible challenge. I really need some serious help.

But I also know that as I write this that I'm not the only one who has this issue. I know plenty of people who have to have their calendars open at all time and are scheduled to every moment.

But, I don't really believe that this is a good thing. We're in college. We're supposed to be having fun and relaxing. While homework and extracurricular activities are undoubtedly important, will that be what most people remember when they think about college?

I know that I don't want to remember the fact that my whole day was planned from beginning to end. I want to remember going out on weekends, not collapsing and sleeping all because I'm so exhausted from the day's activities. I want to remember laughing with friends, going to football games and talking hour upon hour with whomever I happen to be with at a given moment.

I'm sure most people would agree with that statement. Despite the importance a Penn State diploma might hold in your prospective field, the overwhelming memories from Penn State will hopefully not be from the library.

So, throw caution to the wind. Just don't plan so much. Do not sit there and make lists that say laundry 1 p.m.; work 2:30; studying 4:30. Do not get to the point where you have to schedule "free time" or "fun time" in your Penn State planner.

But don't feel bad if you can't do it because if I try to, I will be searching through the garbage to find it about five minutes later.