When it was time for me to think about picking out a college, the task seemed comical to me as I was a very poor high student with no interest in what I was learning. But my parents mandated that I attend college even though I had no interest. Fortunely, a friend found a junior college in Delaware with open enrollment. We both applied and were accepted. Then another friend of ours joined us and it sort of felt like we were just continuing high school, but with more available beer.
Fortunately for me, I went there, quickly matured quiet a bit and did well and went on to finish a four year degree and then went on to graduate school. I had finally found my academic groove.
So, 25 years later, when my niece was starting her college search, I asked if she needed any of my help or plentyful, unsolicited advice. She told me that she had been doing some research about schools and firmly told me that she could not go to any schools in the south.
I was impressed with her sense of responsibility and quickly jumped to some conclusions as to why she had ruled out the south. Was it too far from home? Was it too conservative for her? Was it not diverse enough for her? Did she want to study where she could land a job after she graduated?
Nope, it was none of those reasons. She didn't want to study in the south because so much of that area is hot all year long and her hair would just be too frizzy because of the humidity.
My momentary admiration was deflated but I had no room to be critical so I just shut up and pretended I didn't hear her response.
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