With the same enthusiasm I have for my time at Miami thus far, I am heading into my final year of college. While many college seniors around the nation are already suffering from “senioritis” and are counting down to graduation, I am dreading May 7, the day I am no longer a college student. While yes, I am a little nervous to head into the real world, I am infinitely more terrified of no longer living the life I’ve created.

The job market is tough out there for recent college grads. Few entry-level positions, coupled with competition from experienced professionals who are unemployed makes landing that “grown up” position quite frustrating.

Living at home can be a pleasurable experience where you’re afforded the time to mature and save money in a loving, supportive environment. The fact is that not all of us Generation Y boomerang kids had helicopter parents. For that lot, not being able to escape their parents’ house equates to being trapped in quicksand.

I recently read (and re-tweeted) an article about packing for college. Initially, I thought it was a pretty thorough and thoughtful list. But once I had a little time to sit back and think about the list I realized while it may have been thorough, it wasn’t all that thoughtful or practical. So I decided to critique the list a little bit and add some of my thoughts after living in a dorm (a very small one) for 2 years.

It’s hard for me to believe I have been out of college for seven years now and high school for 12. I’m rapidly approaching the end of my twenties, a fact that is somewhat painful to admit in one sense, but kind of exciting in another. This milestone birthday has got me thinking. A lot.

Yippie…It’s Friday! “Friday Favorites” is a collection of all the best stuff the world and GenYJourney.com had to offer this week. Check out the quick summaries of the best articles and visit the authors at their blog to share your comments with them. GenYJourney.com: Real People, Real World, Real Perspectives.

We hear all the time about how important blogging is in helping develop your personal brand and subsequently your career. They are from pretty credible sources like Dan Schawbel, Chris Brogan, too! If you were to take a look at those two examples now, they are banking on their blogs and you are probably thinking “hell yeah, those guys are rockstars, everyone wants to hear what they have to say. But why should I be blogging?”