Issue date: 11/3/09 Section: Opinions

Against all recommendations, I cannot wait to join the "real world" as a productive member of society.

Friends who graduated have warned me about leaving college for years, and I do not know what the big deal is all about.

I have lived in the "real world" before. I joined the Army out of high school and quickly got used to military life.

The monotony of most days would stretch to weeks and weeks to months. Unless I was in the field training or was deployed, Army life was mostly a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. job (more like 5:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.).

When I was released, my time was my own.

Since I came to Eastern in fall 2005, it seems as though my life has been hijacked. It seems as though I no longer have any personal time. Work, class, work, class, work, work and sleep are how the majority of my days have been spent.

Weekends? Ha! Good one. The news does not stop on the weekends. If I am not traveling to cover a sporting event, then I am running around campus covering other events.

Since the beginning of 2006, I have held a part-time job that requires me to work every Sunday afternoon and evening. Rarely have I been able to take a weekend off to go and watch my beloved Chicago Bears play or even to make it home to see my family.

Holidays? Well, I haven't been home on Christmas for a few years. Labor Day, Memorial Day and the rest of the traditional holidays I spend working.

At least back in my old Army days I was able to have my weekends and holidays.

It's not that I am looking for pity, I am used to working a lot. I am used to working consecutive days and weekends. I am also used to not seeing my family on holidays.

I am just not getting used to not having any time for myself. And my life suffers because of it.

My grades have been on a constant slide since starting at The Daily Eastern News, but I have somehow managed to maintain a better than 3.0 cumulative GPA.

Working somewhere in the area of 60 hours a week, on top of taking classes, and failing at maintaining a personal life, is just too much.

And that is why I await the "real world."

I can work at my 9 to 5, and then do what I please.

No worrying about an upcoming test, no formal homework, and no need to supplement the paltry slave wages I receive for my work here at The DEN.

The ability to form and make relationships with people outside the newsroom seems so foreign to me after spending four years in Room 1811 of Buzzard Hall; a room where I have spent more time in than the house I bought three years ago.

I could have saved myself a lot of money by setting up a cot and, literally, just living there. It seems as though the only thing I don't do there is sleep and shower.

And why is it so difficult for teachers to understand that so many of their students have a lot more on their plate than their class? I have it easy when it comes to that situation, I don't have any kids at home I need to take care of.

Eric Hiltner is a senior journalism major and can be reached at 581-7942 or DENopinions@gmail.com.

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