STUDENT LIFE

There's a part of me that finds a certain measure of comfort in consistency. It enjoys falling back into the same familiar patterns, doing the same things in the same way I've always done them.

That part of me hasn't had a very good week.

Case in point - this column. I'm typing it on a Windows 7 computer running Windows 8 software while some fancy internet modem blinks up a storm on the shelf next to me. Just a week ago today, Word and the computer it ran on were the XP version, and the dial-up internet was perfectly comprehensible to even my tech-challenged self.

But our XP computer was on the verge of crashing, and since they're outmoded we had to buy a later-model computer with even-later-model software. And, of course, the new computer won't run dial-up, so that had to go too.

To retain some shred of normalcy in my writing, I used a template called "Windows 2003 Look", which at least saves me the trouble of scrolling through the whole font menu for Times New Roman and fussing with the paragraph spacing.

Maybe once I'm done with this I'll get on our speedy new internet and pick away at my online college application. (Note: Putting your whole life story into a form, should you ever have to do this, is going to make you feel extremely inadequate. Extremely.)

It feels weird to have to think about college now. The process is stressing my family and me out immensely. Mom's worried about the usual suspects - financial aid, whether I'll be ready to leave home, finding somewhere I'll be happy. Chris, on the other hand, is mostly concerned with my getting off the computer ("For the last time, you can edit your essay during the school year! Now give me a turn before all my friends go offline!") and then my going somewhere far, far away for a nice long time.

In addition, we (read: Mom) decided that this year would be a good time for me to take Driver's Ed. We (she) also decided that it would be a good year for Chris to take Driver's Ed as well. We sit at opposite corners of the room and try not to glare at each other too much.

During my first lesson, which took place last Sunday, I shared a table with two sweet younger girls who said they were cheerleaders. I don't mean to sound judgmental, but they were quite, ah, stereotype-fulfilling. As I finished question 24 on the daily worksheet, they were still arguing over the answer to question 3.

Cheerleader 1: "Hey, I think I found question 3!"

Cheerleader 2: "No way!

Cheerleader 1: "See how it asks for four ways that people use the highway transportation system? Well, it says here that drivers, passengers, cyclists, and pedestrians use the highway transportation system!"

Cheerleader 2: "That can't be right. It asks for four ways that people use the system, not four people that use it!"

Cheerleader 1: "Well, you can drive, you can be a passenger, you can cycle, or you can walk!"

Cheerleader 2: "It doesn't say that."

Cheerleader 1: "You're so cute. And by cute, I mean hopeless."