Until two weeks ago, I didn’t think I was going to prom. As a sophomore, an upperclassman would have to ask me, and that hadn’t happened. Then, during lunch one day, senior Katie LaPointe suddenly exclaimed, “Hey! Do you want to go to prom with me?”

Dear Weather Dude,

I have lived in Champaign all 15 and 3/4 years of my life, and never have I seen such strange weather as I saw today.

Of course I know that in C-U the outside temperature changes more often than Britney Spears’ marital status, but come on.

First it was rain, then hail, then snow, and more rain … all within sixth period. And then the sun came out!

Every year there is one day in April when students across the country take a vow of silence.

Every year since sixth grade, I have participated in the Day of Silence. And every year, I get more and more out of my one day without communication.

Have you ever looked at a cereal box closely? I mean, have you ever really inspected it?

Do you realize that each little detail, each little color of the design was placed there with a purpose?

Over spring break, I visited a friend in Pennsylvania. It was my first time flying alone, so I was a little nervous. However, it turned out to be pretty fun.

Usually, the word “stumble” reminds me of tripping over some rocks, or attempting to walk in a straight line after spinning in a chair.

Recently, though, I found a Web site called StumbleUpon, which has much less painful associations. StumbleUpon helps you find awesome Web sites based on your interests.

Computers are amazing. In particular, Word documents enable us to write faster, delete things quickly, and cut, copy, and paste. The regular old pencil-and-paper method is being used less and less.

My question is: Will it become obsolete?

Free periods can create difficult situations for me. Even after a long evening of homework, I often don't finish everything I was supposed to. So, I tell myself that I'll finish those last few math problems during my free period.

It sounds like a great solution, right?

Many times, it is. I'll finish the work, and still have a while to talk to friends.

I no longer associate the name Charlie with a viral video of an agitated unicorn. Now, Charlie is a cute laughing baby. My brother first showed my family these adorable English children a few weeks ago:

Back in seventh grade, when I had all the time in the world to do whatever I pleased, I often visited a Web site called Quizilla. I would spend hours taking quizzes that other users created, finding out what "Family Guy" character I am or what lies in the depth of my blue eyes.

Last summer, at Café Kopi in downtown Champaign, I noticed some beautiful photography displayed on the walls. The colors were somehow soft, but intense. There was something about them I just loved.

Recently in Japanese class, we wrote an essay describing aspects of our school. We were supposed to include a sentence about the problems we have, so we learned the words for things such as drugs and guns.

However, drugs don’t seem to be a problem while Uni students are at school, and I've never heard of any incident involving guns.

While I don’t keep every little thing that I’ve owned, I absolutely consider myself a pack rat.

Look in my desk drawers, for example. You’ll find everything from a Japanese gum wrapper, to ugly plastic earrings from a birthday party, to the paper place card from a cousin’s wedding. Why would I keep these things?

Every January, Illinois high school students interested in theater gather at the Illinois High School Theatre Festival, affectionately known as Theatrefest. In January 2007 it was held on our own University of Illinois campus.

I have always prided myself on being weird. In middle school, many people would comment, “You’re so strange!”

“Weird,” I would reply. “Call me weird, not strange.”