Samantha Donisi
Asst. Editor

Students have a constant companion throughout their school years. From elementary to college, students will continually meet up with the bubble sheet.

Anyone who has ever taken a computer-scored test knows what I mean. It's that little rectangular bit of computer paper that is responsible for so many grades on so many tests. And it's pretty easy, right?

All you have to do is fill in the bubble for the answer you want. I have been doing it since first grade, and I thought I had a handle on the situation.

Teachers are always drilling into students' heads the fact that proofreading your work is important, and that lesson finally hit home for me.

Last spring, I filled out my FAFSA form, like many many college students do.

I wrote my name, social security number and address with ease. I even had a handle on the tax information. Then came the mistake.

I was asked a simple question: "Have you ever been convicted of a drug offense?" Yes or No. That was easy- of course not. I filled in my bubble and got on with my life.

Then came the Student Aid Report in the mail. The FAFSA office said they were sorry, but they were unable to offer me aid because of my prior conviction.

I was a bit surprised. I reviewed my form and found out that I had apparently incorrectly marked the drug question with a Yes. Oops. That little tiny bubble was about to cause me one big headache.

To begin, I felt a little stupid. I have been using bubble sheets forever, and I should have known to be more careful. Then I had a heck of a time trying to get that answer changed. I had to redo the form online three times.

Each time I made the correction, I had to submit it and wait 48 hours for the correction to take effect. The FAFSA people wanted to make doubly sure I was telling the truth.

While I appreciate their efforts to protect my tax dollars, it was a hassle trying to undo that little proofreading error. I also had to redo the paper form. I had to print it out, make the changes and then practically sign my life away with an agreement saying I would go to jail if I lied.

After I got everything squared away with the FAFSA people, I still had the Financial Aid Office at NIACC to work with. Finanacial Aid bases it's knowledge on information it recieves from FAFSA. Too bad they had me pegged as a criminal.

I had to notify that office of the error, and then they had me fill out a few forms.

Once again I had to swear my innocence under penalty of jail-time, then make copies of everything and send it to all parties involved.

After all was said and done, I still had to have my parents sign another form swearing I had never been convicted of anything. That was two months after I originally filled out my FAFSA.

That one little mistake took such a long time to correct that I was in danger of not qualifying for aid if I couldn't meet the deadline. Luckily, I made it in time.

The thing to remember here is, always double-check your work. No matter what it is, or how much you think you know what you are doing, mistakes happen.

It doesn't hurt to give it that final once-over, just in case.

Dan Sherman
Feature Editor

"The early bird gets the worm." Take a minute and think about this statement. What does it mean to you?

To most it simply means be punctual; get things done on time, perhaps even early. This is great advice for all freshmen, or anyone else for that matter.

But let's take a minute and break this statement down, beginning from the bird's standpoint.

The bird in this phrase is obviously the exemplar to what students should be like. It is on time, even slghtly early. It shows work ethic and that "go-get-it" attitude, perfect for any student.

The bird is the dominant animal, catching the worm off-guard; and, when compared to the real world, the bird would be the student who wakes up each day to get his or her work finished. It is the student that feels the need to finish everything early and get it out of the way.

Now let's take a moment and look at the worm, which has more of a tragic tale; an ending less happy than that of the bird. Imagine this worm waking up, even earlier than the bird, I might add.

This worm starts its day like any other, digging his way around looking for food.

Suddenly the worm hears footsteps, perhaps a squirrel passing by. He doesn't think too much about it, and continues his routine. Then, with a flash, a sharp beak clenches the worm and soars into the sky.

Back in the ground Mrs. Worm and her four children are left wondering where Papa flew off to, never knowing the truth. The moral? Simple.

The early bird gets the worm, but the late worm lives another day.

In other words, "better late than never." Now I'm not saying you should turn work in late.

After all, punctuality is key to success. Rather, I'm saying don't try and do everything at once.

Take your time and do things right, going slowly if needed.

Don't always feel the need to wake up and eat worms.

So remember freshmen, or anyone else for that matter, it is better to take your time and get work done correctly, rather than stressing over getting everything done right away.

After all, sometimes it's good to get an early start like the bird; other times, such as the worm, it's better to take your time. Don't get eaten by birds; take your time and take it easy.

Welcome (back) to college.

Brandon Watson
News Editor

Relax freshmen, take a deep breath, it is natural to have the "first-year jitters."

The nervousness and anxiety that you are experiencing is a result of your high expectations to perform well academically, not to mention the pressure donated by your family members and friends.

But be aware freshmen, your collegiate journey will present obstacles and challenges that you must be prepared for. We all like to have fun, but you must know how to prioritize.

While reminiscing on my freshman campaign, I think back to the situations when I had to choose between hanging out with friends or cracking open a book.

With humility, I can be honest and say that my decision making at the time wasn't efficient.

The aftermath of my slacking has resulted in retaking courses that I could have already completed.

After throwing the high school tassel in the air, it is common for many first-year students to enter college inexperienced about the abundance of freedom and independence they finally have access to.

Although independence is good, if utilized incorrectly, the hesitation to break the seal on the envelope containing your semester grades will almost be a certainty.

In addition, lots of students fail to adjust to the abstractness of college curriculum.

The consistency of graded homework is replaced with large quantities of reading, for the benefit of doing well on quizzes and exams. So yes, you must study on a regular basis.

Attendance, attendance, attendance. This is a very underrated component of college, that is often reflected in some students' grades.

Attending each and every class will not only enable you to establish rapport with your instructors, but it will also give you that extra boost of confidence and insight to master mid-terms and final exams.

Some instructors also give extra credit for perfect attendance.

One useful method I recommend you put to use is setting daily goals.

Of course, we all subconsciously set goals. But in order to reach these goals, it would be wise to commit your clearly defined goals daily to paper. By setting goals you are giving yourself something to aim at.

The final piece of advice I give to freshmen is to develop a strong work ethic.

It is obvious that you have the aptitude to be in college, but the real question is: how hard are you willing to work? A large portion of a student's academic success is based upon his or her effort.

With this said, good luck.

Benjamin J. Buck
Editor

After all the controversy last spring surrounding the Schiavo family in Florida and with Mr. Schiavo's decision to take out Mrs. Schiavo's feeding tube, I have some thoughts to share.

I have personally been affected with a life-changing experience that was not exploited by the media or government.

My mother was admitted to Mercy Hospital on January 7, 2005 with congestive heart failure.

On January 12, 2005, she underwent surgery to have stints placed in her arteries to allow blood to flow better to and from her heart. After surgery, she started to vomit blood and went into Code Blue, which medically means the patient has stopped breathing.

At the age of 39, she was placed on life support after resuscitation, where 10 doctors and at least 20 nurses tried to figure out what could be done.

After seeing this horrific scene through the critical care glass doors, I raced to get my eight-year-old brother from school so he would have the chance to say farewell to his mother.

The nurse came into the room and said neither the doctors nor the nurses could do anything, as her condition was too severe.

My dad and I looked at each other and knew this was not the life my mom would have wanted to live.

We made the decision to take her off life support and almost instantly she passed away.

This was one of the hardest things my family has ever had to deal with and it's been one of the greatest struggles of my life.

But there comes a time when you have to think of the person who is hooked up to the machine and not yourself.

Nine times out of ten, a person will not want to live with a machine breathing for the individual when he or she can't.

I respect Mr. Schiavo for making his decision to pull the feeding tube and letting his wife pass away because this was not a life to live.

You really don't understand the reality behind a life-changing decision, such as this, until you actually have to make it.