Kyleigh's Law

Most young adults who are under the age of 21 are probably furious with the most recent New Jersey law that was put into effect May 1, 2010. Termed "Kyleigh's Law", the newest motor vehicle law requires any driver under the age of 21, who holds a permit or provisional driver license, to purchase two $4 decals at the Motor Vehicle Commission and place the decals on both the front and back license plate. The decal is intended to identify the driver's age to police so they may target possible law-breakers more easily. The overall reaction to this new law has been mediocre. Most teenagers believe it is profiling to single out all drivers under the age of 21. The law was put into place after Kyleigh D'Alessio, a 16 year old, was struck and killed by another teen who was driving. With the decal having to be displayed on both the front and back of the license plates, many New Jersey residents believe criminals and sexual predators may be on the lookout for these cars, knowing that they are being driven by young, defenseless drivers. I personally believe that the negatives outweigh the positives in Kyleigh's Law. I don't really see the need for these decals, as it just draws even more attention to teenagers who are already under close watch by police. Unfortunately, if you do not comply with Kyleigh's Law, police will slap you with a $100 fine. Although this was brought about for a good cause, I think the law needs to be scrapped. Stayed tuned tomorrow to find out what I think should be New Jersey's next biggest mission!

Summer Job Search

It's already been a few days into summer, and it is time to get serious about finding a summer job. I admit I should have started my search back in March or April, but it was hard to imagine summer being so close. Most college students return home from school in May and work for the most of summer to earn some spending money for the school year. However, due to the state of the economy, summer jobs are hard to come by. Most positions are already filled, and qualified workers are being forced to take the jobs that most college students look for in the summers. According to CNNmoney.com, unemployment among 16-24 year olds stands at 20% heading into summer, which has doubled from the pre-recession summer of 2007. Not included in these numbers are companies who no longer offer internship positions, or if they do, they are all unpaid. So, you may ask, what can we do now to find work? My advice is to look EVERYWHERE and ANYWHERE. Most companies and stores post positions online, so that is always a good place to look. A friend of mine Stephen Kressaty (got to give him his shoutout) informed me of Craigslist.com as a potential website for finding summer work as they have a plethora of random type jobs. Also, be aggressive. Just because there isn't a hiring or help wanted sign in the window, doesn't mean you still can't inquire about a posiition. You never know what they will say and you may impress a worker with your personality. When there aren't many jobs, its time to be creative! Best of luck in your job search and I will keep you all posted with my search as well.

End of the Semester Outlook

The blog is back! I apologize to my loyal followers who have been anxiously waiting for the end of my hiatus, but I am prepared to fully commit myself 100% to this blog, to bring young adults and teenagers breaking news, advice, and tips for success in the future. I want to reflect on my second semester, and some of the things I have learned after completing my freshman year at the HALL.

1. College is about finding yourself: FACT! This goes especially to those who dorm. We are basically given complete freedom to do as we please with our time. We can study all night, or drink until sunrise, or smoke on the top of the parking garage. There is really no one telling you what you can or can't do, what you should or shouldn't do. After finishing my first year, I really felt like I found myself. I found myself as the person who I want to be. I never really knew what I wanted out of life, I mean I had an idea in my head, but being at school really clarified it all. I now know the person that I am, the person that I want to become, and the person that I will always want to be. You really have to avoid things like peerpressure and trying to fit into a certain crowd because at the end of the day thas not being true to yourself.

2. A whole new world: Now that I have been in college, it does not even compare to high school. There are even more people, all of whom you do not know, and they all have a different story. My eyes really opened this year after meeting students from around the world. Their experiences and stories are like no other, and I have really learned to accept other people's views because of that. I am more tolerant of things like religion, sexual orientation, and the overall view on life that people have. I realize that just because we do something this way in America, does not mean that it is the only way to do it. Different people do different things, and we cannot criticize them for it.

3. Real life: For most, real life is only a few years away. As much as we would like to, we can't be in college forever. Start thinking about your future. What you want to do, what your career goals are. If you don't have a major, seriously start giving some thought to it. You don't want to be living with your parents when your 28 years old, earning minimum wage at BestBuy, especially if you have a college degree.

4. Make a Difference: Past Presidents have always said this; that we are the future of the country. We have the most potential in life, as young adults. We can do whatever we choose to do, and be whoever we want to be. It is time that we start realizing what's going on in life. Pick up the newspaper, watch the world news. Things like the financial crisis and terrorism are affecting us all, whether you realize it or not. Draw an opinion on a particular issue, and make sure you VOTE. Voting is one of the greatest rights we have as citizens, and not enough people take advantage of it. Make sure your opinions are being heard.