Yesterday I ventured on down to New Haven. It would be your typical Connecticut town with streets named after trees such as Maple and Aspen. The homes dotted on the streets have blue shutters, red doors, and American flags waving on the front porch. There are white steeple churches and rolling hills. There in New Haven also resides one of our nation’s most prestigious colleges. Yale.

While walking around the campus, my only thought was what the experience would have been like to get an undergraduate degree here. Many college parking lots are filled with nice cars, yet this one seemed dotted with a few more Range Rovers, BMW's and the occasional Aston Martin. The library was built like a cathedral, where they still keep a card catalogue for show. The dewy decimal system very much in effect. Crazy pattern chairs like the ones at A&M are replaced with old leather sofas (supposedly I saw the one ol George W liked to take naps on). This school has on display a Gutenberg bible. Some of our nation’s greatest leaders have come out of this school. Venturing into CEO's, CIO's, CFO's high rise offices I'm sure I'd see many diplomas prominently displaying the big blue Y.

In school you stay on campus all four years. The freshman stay around the same area, but after that you are broken down into colleges. Liberal Arts have their own place, Business, Science etc. In these gated communities it becomes a world like Harry Potter. There are courtyards, music rooms, a cafeteria, etc. A way to build relationships and a way to truly get to know your peers. If that isn't enough, and if your parents checkbooks are large enough there are secret societies. A few buildings dotted on campus that are dark and gloomy. No windows and large deadbolts. Mainly for show, but one can't help but wonder what goes behind the big wooden doors.

Football and basketball do exist, but it’s the other sports that are popular. Rugby, Crew, Hockey, and even squash. It's a college and has its rows of pubs. It also has its French bakeries, true Italian eateries, and designer boutiques. I just don't picture students' purchases here are determined by price and value shopping. I doubt the Stop N Shop has ever seen the Dirty 30. The Stones. Keysters. All great names for that big blue box of Keystone Light that is oh so cheap. Spring Break I doubt consists of camping with friends and maybe the occasional trip to South Padre. Whose parents have the largest home on the Hamptons, or maybe a private island in the Caribbean. It's a lifestyle that isn't real. Where working part time job in high school isn't necessary as annuities are received monthly. Its where hand me down furniture is atrocious. A nice suit is in the thousands. I'm sure there are exceptions at this school. A boy from the Midwest who has dreamed of going there and just so happens to have a decent lay up. A girl in California who wants to truly study biology and received a scholarship. There are probably a few Joes who are just looking for a degree.

It's a lifestyle that’s fun to imagine. Still the experiences I've had and the way I've grown up is irreplaceable. I do know what it takes to earn a dollar, what it means to have a strong work ethic, and most importantly what values are important to have. Are Yale students privileged? Probably 90% of them very much so. Am I? More than I will ever realize. I've been given a great education. One that I am proud of. I have friends and family that I would do anything for. While it feels like I'm hardly getting by on my salary because of expenses I know there are many others through out this world that envy where I am at in my life. To top it off I’m at the young age of 23. I know I'll have food tomorrow, a roof over my head, and more opportunities ahead that I don't even see.