The school year is finally almost over. The 5K is coming up, teachers are starting to buckle down in preparation for final exams, and a major case of senioritis has stricken the senior class.

As we rush into the month of May, we find ourselves among a national testing craze. APs are right around the corner, the impending final exams are looming in the shadows, and the dreaded SAT exam is going down this Saturday. All around me, people are discussing SAT and ACT scores.

Decisions. We constantly have to make them, from the time we roll out of bed and pick out something to wear to the time we crawl under the covers and think about when to set the alarm clock for.

The decisions we make cause a huge impact on our lives. Even though sometimes we don’t realize it, almost every thing we do and say is the result of some complicated decision process.

I have walked down the hallways of Uni a countless number of times, racing to my first-period classes or strolling around during lunch. I’m familiar with the signs that are posted on the walls, the signs that make this place uniquely Uni.

I have encountered everything from the frequent bake-sale posters to the occasional warnings that urge students to clean up the kitchen sinks.

In kindergarten, children often say things like “I’ll be your best friend forever if you give me your orange Popsicle for my purple one!” or “Hi, my name is Carrie. Let’s be best friends!”

However, as we grow older, we no longer use the term “best friend” so lightly.

Uni takes pride in its intelligent and talented student body. It boasts of high standardized test scores, a dedicated administration, and a competitive atmosphere. But frankly, sometimes the competition and tendency to overachieve can get a little annoying.

Tomorrow is the University of Illinois’ Unofficial St. Patrick’s Day celebration, also simply known as “Unofficial.”

So how does one celebrate Unofficial? Well, U of I students celebrate by getting drunk.

I think one of the most painful sensations is the feeling that you get when you force yourself to stay awake.

I would know; I experience this sensation during school almost every day. While falling asleep in class is nothing uncommon at Uni, it’s a phenomenon with significant consequences.

For those of you who have been to the new Champaign Public Library, you know how amazing it is, right? It’s almost like a museum – with its vast hallways, glass walls, wide staircase, and high-tech self-checkouts. However, while I do think that the new library is great, I must say that some work needs to be done on its parking lot.

Like many teenage girls, I love shopping.

On Monday, the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) announced that it will be testing random athletes for steroid and performance enhancer use during post-season competitions starting with the 2008-09 school year.

After three years of driving me to and from school and taking me to various sports practices and extracurricular events, my parents were tired of being my “chauffeur.” Driving me to places interfered with their schedules, so they bought me a car and a campus parking permit.