Dread, panic and fear: That final week for over-caffeinated college grads

It’s that time of year again. When working on a college campus gives you a front row seat to all the excitement and worry and panic and dread that hangs over this collegiate land. The end of the semester. Exam week looms. Graduation sits perched on the horizon, taunting, haunting, teasing students. “Come and get me!” Some desperately want it. Others want it to go away. A few have been chasing it for so long, but still don’t have a clue how to bait the hook and catch it.

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Never make a deal with a college student

Never make a deal with a college student. It comes with too many conditions. Too many clauses. You give in to one thing and then they want another. It never ends well. You find yourself in some unknown territory, like cross-country, bare-handed turkey hunting. Or in this case, writing a column about my Opinion Writing class. What was I thinking?

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Traveling with college kids, Part II … He survives and learns strange things

Last week I was worrying about traveling with two college students to a Society of Professional Journalists conference in Birmingham, Ala. We went to pick up several awards for the college newspaper they work on and that I advise. Certainly it was a proud moment for all of us, and we had a good time. Most importantly, I survived it all. The roof of the Southwest jet we flew didn’t pop open like a convertible, and there was no ill-advised joking in the security line that resulted in a body-cavity search of yours truly. Hooray for that.

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Fear and loathing … of traveling with college kids

Things I fear — right now! — as you read this. Because I’m stepping on an airplane with two college students. We’re venturing off to Birmingham, Ala., for a Society of Professional Journalists Conference. They’re not professionals yet, but they’re the co-editors of the college newspaper I advise. They’re also up for a couple of awards — nice, important ones — and we’re going to collect them. But that means traveling together. Journeying afar. Getting on a plane, riding in a taxi, staying in a hotel, eating food, spending quality time together, etc., etc., etc.

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