This spring break I took a road trip with my mom, along the way we stopped to see different college campuses around central Texas. The trip was very important because it gave me an idea of what to expect next year, when, as a senior, I will be looking at these places with the possibility of living there in the future. We didn't go on any scheduled tours because the college students were, of course, all on spring break as well. But just walking around the campuses, with all their towering buildings put a reality to what adults have been telling us to start preparing for. The experience also made me realize that soon the class of 2011 will be graduating and on their own, living without parents for the first time. Many students admitted that that was one of their biggest fears about leaving home.

Visiting the campuses stressed the importance of furthering my education beyond a high school diploma. First we went to the main University of Texas campus in downtown Austin. UT is a top pick for many Texas high school students, the overall atmosphere of Austin combined with top grade education causes a resounding allure. We also drove by Southwestern University in Georgetown, which is another top tier school in central Texas. Southwestern boasts rigorous courses and top class professors. 

Many students going to Temple High School see these as perspective colleges because they offer an urban lifestyle and are still within driving distance of their homes. Both of these aspects add to the overall excitement of choosing a college and moving out, even though it is bound to be scary. This spring break helped me realize all of this and I found it to be a highly productive break.