I constantly hear my friends complaining that it's impossible to be a full-time student and an almost full-time skier. I just don't get it. I'm on snow 120-ish days a season, and I am finishing college in 3 1/2 years. Maybe I'm some sort of freak of nature or something. I schedule my classes on two days, and if need be, I take an evening class or two that won't interfere with ski time. With this, I still get to travel. Last winter, I skied around 50 of my 120 days in Summit County. Others were spent in Silverton, Aspen/Snowmass, Kirkwood, Alta and Jackson. It's not difficult, either. Just be meticulous with your class schedule, and if you need to have a class on Friday, make sure it's a big lecture you can just skip. I know this formula doesn't work for all majors, but it can't just work for journalism.

Some of my friends have been in school for upwards of seven years. There's nothing wrong with that. In fact, sometimes, I wish I was drawing my college days out. But, it bugs me when others don't know how I do it, and then tell me they can't possibly to it. If you say it can't be done, it just means you're not willing to figure out a way to do it. If you want something to work badly enough, it will work.

I wanted to finish up school quickly so I can move away from Colorado flatness. I guess the idea of steaper mountains, more snow and fewer people elsewhere can do that to you.