I just had the BEST weekend ever. My buddy Ryan gave me a shout to come hang out on campus in Indiana for a few days, he’s always talking up his affordable university. So I finished up a shift at the ol’ supermarket on Wednesday and hopped into my hand-me-down wheels. I was expecting to lay low and just play video games. You know, the basic idea for most of my plans. But man, was I wrong! This place definitely has a campus life. There were students milling around all over the place. Didn’t they realize it was the weekend? He told me to leave the game gear in his room and to grab my workout gear. Campus life has really changed him. First we joined some of his buddies for some intramural b-ball. We kicked butt! So we get back to his dorm he told me not to bother sitting down. We had more campus life activities. It’s like he is becoming a freakin’ poster child for this affordable Indiana university. I figured paying for college would be the same anywhere, but he is really getting a lot out of going here.

I remember when we were both graduating from high school he didn’t know what he wanted to do. His parents said that they wouldn’t help pay for college because of having younger siblings to worry about. He knew that his next move was to apply to an affordable university – paying for college felt impossible. Man, did he ever sweat over the student loans. Ryan met with a counselor and he made it sound pretty easy – he could actually pay for college, take out some student loans and still have cash left over to live on. So he went here and I guess he totally changed in the process.

I can’t get over how many new people he’s hanging with now. Campus life here goes all week long, every single day. So yeah we head back to the dorm and then grab outdoor gear. Ryan met some really hot girls who love hiking and so I tagged along. It was sweet!   We found out that they were planning a campfire later on that night and of course we were going.

Ryan is loving life here. He found an affordable university in Indiana that offered his major, they hooked him up so he can afford paying for college, he is totally soaking up the campus life here and he is meeting lots of hot girls and hanging out with some really awesome people. He totally shocked me when he started to talk about becoming an RA next year. He is all about helping his fellow man, I guess. He is enjoying campus life so much that he wants to introduce new people to it – like his RA did at the start of school.

One thing for sure we barely sat down the last few days and never played a single video game, which is just crazy. There was no time. We caught a game with some of his buddies, went for a hike, had the campfire, hung out at the student union, met more hot girls. I sorta got a number… maybe I’ll be back for another visit really soon. You know to soak up the campus life and whatever. Now I understand why he’d rather stay at affordable university in Indiana that head home. Sure he is on his own with paying for college, but my man is livin’ the dream.

So I am still trying to figure out what to do with my life lately. I’ve been taking a few classes here and there at the community college, but haven’t really found anything I liked much. Well this weekend changed all of that. I was hanging out with a couple of my buddies playing this slick new video game. You should have seen the animation on it, looked like you were watching a movie. So we played it all weekend and I thought, you know, I could do this! I could design video games for a living. I’m already good at playing them. I could do cool things with video production or digital media, right? I’ve always been interested in computer stuff, especially design, but didn’t really think it would apply to a slick, paying job.

Well it turns out that one of the guys was just researching schools in Michigan that offer digital media and found a great option. He’s always talked about wanting to do video production – some really cutting edge stuff. Now he is thinking of going for a campus tour for this Michigan-based school. I might tag along, don’t know yet. It’d be awesome to see what video production suites look like, or what kind of software they use for digital media classes. I also thought something in animation might be sweet too. I could be one of those designers that helps out on special effects in movies. I read on the web that Michigan is becoming the next “Hollywood” or whatever that means, seriously Michigan?! Maybe getting a degree in digital media is the way to go.

I started to check things out on the web and found a few ideas for schools in Michigan that offer digital media degrees and offer special classes in animation or specific ones for cool video production. I could help create an awesome music video for my buddy’s garage band! I bet I could get a solid job in digital media, I wouldn’t have to work at my crappy grocery bagger job. I’ve got all of these awesome animation ideas that would be perfect for the digital media world. I’ve played around with some of it, but I really want it to look cool, professional, you know? So far it just feels like kids’ stuff.

 I’m gonna need to figure out how many of my credits transfer and when I can start up the semester. I might need to take a couple of digital media intro classes at community before I head out for the real deal. I don’t think they really offer anything in video production at school so I can’t take any intro classes until later. Glad I already took some intro to computer graphics and web design classes, I bet that will help.

Seriously, I thought I’d have to go to California or New York to get a degree in digital media but I could save a ton on tuition by staying right here in Michigan. Which is really awesome because then I will still go see my favorite bands and can keep hanging out with my buddies without leaving Michigan.

Honestly, I never thought I’d be that interested in school like this, but digital media, video production, game design, animation it all sounds like fun. I always wanted this amazing job, one everyone wishes they had. I’ll use the latest software, the best computers, finally work when I want to. Get some recognition for my animation design.

It’s gonna be pretty sweet!

Okay, so my brother Darron just told me he saw an article on a Nascar fan site about the big Sprint Cup Series in June. He’s totally planning on getting tickets and I’m hoping to scrape up the funds and go too. It would be so insane! I’m a big fan of Kurt Busch. I mean think about it – his name is like Busch beer and he drives the #2 Miller Lite car. He’s got to be getting beer and hot chicks left and right.

Darron went last year and ended up in the Miller Lite party deck. He bragged about the girls for weeks. I’m hoping to sneak in this year! Hell yeah!! He told me that Nascar fans are insane to party with. I can’t even imagine – watching the race all day and partying all night!

His buddy James had them staying at the Infield (helps having connections!) at MIS. You can actually check out my bro’s sweet pics on several Nascar fan sites. People are constantly adding new photos to Nascar fan sites. It’s just a huge party! 

Oh, and the Saturday night concert. It’s not my first choice in music, but a rowdy group of people and a loud band – I gotta get myself there.