Lesson #18: Go through papers at the end of the semester and recycle.

 I'm going through a year's worth of school papers and notes, and realizing most of it can be recycled. Will we really need a stack of syntax notes? A pile of political papers? Probably not. Clear out the clutter, organize your life, and recycle whatever you can. Remember to take out the staples if you can...

Lesson #19: Remember and celebrate special days.

I already wrote all this...but it was lost. So, bummer... this won't be as good as the original. Sorry.

It's really nice to remember people's special days--birthdays, anniversaries, big projects, etc. Making the small effort to not only remember but celebrate someone's special time can take an acquaintance to a BFF in no time. Yea, Facebook reminds you about birthdays and you can write "happy birthday :)" on someone's wall... but that's pretty lame these days. Do something really nice, and get into a good habit that will carry on long after college.

Lesson #20: Be nice to everyone on your way up.

The administrative assistant, the janitor, the security guard: these are the people whom you should never ignore. First of all, because they're people regardless of position (duh!), but they're also the people who know what's going on, and how to help. For journalists, they may be the best source. For an applicant, they may have the best advice. I've always had a smile and small-talk for these everyday heroes on and off campus, and it's really made these 4 years much more pleasant.

The time it took to map this whole thing out deserves major kudos.

Just heard it on the radio...