I ask that question with as I'm hit with reality, but I also really wonder if I'm almost a "junior". My rank will officially be that of a junior - 3 - in the fall, but when my "senior" year rolls around, I fear I won't be graduating with the rest of them. My rank is becoming meaningless as I see possibly four more years of school ahead of me.

Last quarter I decided to take on the challenge of majoring in design. It will be challenging for many a reason, the first being that I'm facing the possiblity being an undergrad for a good long while. Secondly, a lot hard work and time is involved - the design program requires a rigorous portfolio review and is highly selective. (For example, the program I want to go in to - visual communication - accepted 12 or 16 people this year .......... 77 applied.) The portfolio review only happens one time a year - right at the beginning of winter quarter. And here's the kicker: the program is a solid three-years post-acceptance. If you don't get accepted the first time, you can only apply one more time, and a whole year must pass before trying again.

I can't believe I've been at Ohio State for two years. My first year had its ups & downs - I had excellent grades the whole year through and was on the Dean's List for winter quarter. However, I had absolutely no idea what I was doing at Ohio State (an excellent time to take GEC's!). This year also had its ups and downs. My grades faltered during winter quarter as I battled with my head and heart over what I really wanted to do with my time, and my future. I dropped a class that quarter as I faced a dramatic GPA drop had I continued to drown in it. BUT!, I changed my major, and that was the best thing I've ever done.

So, I may not graduate with the seniors in '09, but I will be a junior next year.. and I will get into the design program! (And graduate as a sixth-year senior in 2011....maybe? Hopefully!)