7 things I learned AFTER college

7. Facebook WILL get you in trouble. Whether it's that inappropriate picture of yourself doing a keg stand in a bikini or that crude status you wrote a week ago, all the content you put on Facebook will forever be saved in the wonderful world of Internet. If your plans upon graduation are to start a career (and I hope they are), go ahead and delete all those pictures of you passed out in a tub at a college party. It's not cool anymore. You know what's cool? A career. A salary. A place of your own. Be smart about what you put out there, and even so, make sure to re-check your privacy settings every once in a while. Also make sure you have a decent profile picture. I guarantee that part of the hiring process includes the boss looking you up on Facebook. I speak from experience!

6. A degree doesn't guarantee a job. So you've done it. You've attended class day in and day out, and now you've graduated. Great. Pat yourself in the back and realize you're now part of a society full of college graduates that are desperately searching for jobs. That little piece of paper you'll get in the mail means close to nothing to employers. As long as you know that, you'll know to try hard enough to get the job you deserve.

5. Personality goes a long way. Not only do employers want to hire someone that will be good at his/her job, they also want someone who will bring extra assets to a company/firm/whatever. If an interview is your first face-to-face with your potential future boss, make sure your personality shines. No one wants a boring snoring person as a cubicle neighbor. So, smile. :)

4. So, you were never an intern? Hm. No worries. Neither was I. Swallow your pride and intern AFTER graduation. Yeah, it sucks to know you're doing what college freshmen are doing, but experience is key. Plus, as an intern with a degree, you should look at it as an opportunity, a foot in the door. That's what I did. I started my internship with a positive attitude. I'll quote myself in telling all my friends, "Watch, I'll get myself a job there." Three months later, here I am, an official employee at the Stuart News. Yay.

3. Relocation, relocation, relocation. You may love where you live. It's home to you. But beggars can't be choosers, so if a job is what you want, make yourself available to move wherever that dream career may be. My only exception to that rule: wherever I move must have a beach. Now I'm a resident of Jensen Beach and yup, it's the perfect place. So glad I gave myself options.

2. You will drown in bills. Yes, yes you will. Light, cable, water, car payment, car insurance, student loans, health insurance, rent. How do you keep track? Set up an alarm on your phone, a calendar, post-its. Whatever works for you. But indeed, you will spend A LOT of money, and you will need to remember to pay up, otherwise you're in biiiiiggg trouble.

1.This one is for my fellow FIU journalism students: You know that grammar exam you have to take only about a million times? Stop complaining about it. Make sure you know all the content on there, because it WILL pay off. Fifty percent of the information on my entrance exam to my job was information similar to that of the grammar exam. So, become an expert in all things AP style and sentence structure and all that good stuff.

'Tis all. :)

Doggie Custody

Max was only a couple of weeks old and probably 8 inches in length when he was found roaming the streets.

I gladly welcomed him into my, well my parents', home, despite mom and dad's various attempts to convince me otherwise. According to them, I'd never be responsible enough to take care of him.

He slept on my bed the first night, and I was ever so careful to not roll over and, er, kill him.

In the middle of a dream, I was awaken by tiny paws scratching my head. Max was informing me that it was time for a midnight walk

For the weeks that followed, I trained Max to pee on pee-pee pads (and then later outside) and, of course, the whole "sit, lie, paw, up" trick.

My parents, whom at first gave me the silent treatment for days because I chose to ignore their request, slowly became fond of Max.

My dad, a man who often shows little signs of affection to human beings, actually grew to love my dog. He'd play with him, talk to him and, though he won't ever admit it, I swear I saw him hug and kiss Max one day.

And with that said, the issue at hand is the following:

I am no longer living with my parents. After having Max at my folks' house for three years, I've moved and taken him with me, against my parents will.

I know my move is tough on my parents; I was the last child to "leave the nest."

My siblings suggested I leave Max so that ma and pa have some sort of company, and I know their reasoning for this is legitimate, but, um, what about ME? At least my parents have each other. I have no one here in Jensen Beach, the city I'm a new resident of.

A solution to the dilemma, I think, would be shared custody of Maxy: two weeks in Miami, two in Jensen Beach.

Though it sounds like a terrific idea to me, I wonder ...

Will this have a negative effect on my dog, like it does on children with divorced parents that share custody? Aww, my poor Max. :(