Escape from City College – Giants inspire Nick to appy himself!

By Nick Palm
The Guardsman

World Series Reflections
It’s taken me two weeks to come down from my “World Series buzz,” which, in turn, led to a short bout of “World Series withdrawal,” followed by a week-long “World Series flu.” (Blaming everything on the World Series is really easy and I suggest trying it out.)

“You’re late for work again, Nick.”

“Sorry boss, BART was ‘World Series delayed’ because someone ‘World Series jumped in front of the train’ ahead of mine and we were stuck between Civic Center and Powell stations until the paramedics could ‘World Series remove the body.’”

Congratulations to the 2010 World Champion San Francisco Giants. You’ve put me through hell my entire life—but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

A message to the million-plus “bandwagon jumpers” in the Bay Area
The Giants thank you for your support. They couldn’t have done it without you, but I sure could have. For one thing, I would have been able to find tickets to a postseason game without having to sell either of my kidneys to a shifty-eyed, back-alley Uzbekistani surgeon.

Band-wagoners, your job is done. So go ahead and hawk your brand new Giants gear to your local thrift store, where true fans like me will be able to find it cheap. Because come opening day, we’ll need to be completely decked out in all of your 2010 gear—which we didn’t have time to wait in line to buy last November.

On matters educational
Well, my application was accepted by SF State. Yet, after the fact I still feel no relief; no weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

You see, my mind’s locomotive runs on one track; it can’t fathom consequences more than one step beyond my current actions. In other words: I’m a man.

I forgot to consider what happens after I am accepted by SF State (if I am accepted). Even for a California resident attending a public university, school is not cheap.

According to SF States’s website, I will be paying over $2,500 per semester in tuition and fees. Include other costs such as textbooks, transportation and materials, and that figure jumps up to approximately $3,000 per semester. That is, until they hike tuition costs again (which will probably happen every year I plan to attend.)

Depending on how many major-specific, credit classes I’ll be able to register for during the ongoing CSU budget crisis (which doesn’t look like many), it will take me anywhere from five to seven semesters to graduate, costing me around $20,000 after all is said and done.

True, this figure sounds flattering compared to some private schools which cost that much per semester. But for an independent, working student in his mid-twenties who is already struggling, this figure has me questioning whether or not to continue the transfer process at all.

My FAFSA application has been denied more times than Charles Manson’s parole requests. And while scholarships are a great way to go, they will not pay for everything.

I plan to fight this school monster to the bloody end, but I will definitely keep my options open. I’ve begun to look at possible internships during the spring semester. With the job market for college graduates as competitive as it is, internships are one of the best ways into many professional doors these days.

Another suggestion for anyone in my boat is to keep the entrepreneurial side of your brain in shape. With today’s ever-changing technology, starting your own company or branding yourself could be the fastest and most lucrative way to plant a solid professional foundation.

Don’t put 100 percent of your focus towards getting a job in your major’s field. Keep in mind how you could create a job for yourself in that field.

Anything is possible. So try to break away from the “standards” society has placed upon you. And good luck, you’ll need it.