When alumnus Adam Blake started buying rental properties around TCU his freshman year, he had no idea his business would make more than a million dollars a year when he was a junior.Blake, 22, is the founder and owner of Blake Venture Corp., a real estate investment and development company in Fort Worth. Entrepreneur Magazine reported in August that his company is projected to generate $2.4 million in sales for 2007. Although he does not disclose this information anymore, he said his actual revenues exceed the numbers from the article.

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Writers: people who put their creative thoughts and ideas into words for the world to enjoy. OK, so that definition is a little biased because I am a writer, but basically a writer is a person who puts thoughts into words, right?

Well, sort of.

I bet if you asked one of the writers of the NBC show, "Heroes," what they did for a living, they would have a much fancier way of saying, "I'm a television show writer."

CHEERS to the university for making campus more environmentally friendly with biodegradable utensils and to-go boxes in dining locations. The innovative Spudware is a step in the right direction toward making a difference in the environment.CHEERS to the Neeley School of Business for the multiple awards won and for raising its admission standards. To be the best, you must only accept the best.

JEERS to Residential Services for creating a dining plan that could have a $2,100 price tag and will go into effect next fall. Deco Deli and Eden's Greens, you will be dearly missed.

After my freshman year at TCU, I wanted to transfer to a different school.I felt like an outsider - like I didn't fit in. I hated college, and I thought it was the university's fault.

I could not have been more wrong.

My parents tried to talk me out of transferring.

"You can't come to college expecting things to happen for you, Al," they said. "You have to make them happen."

So, I decided to try TCU for one more semester to make my parents happy.

As the curtain closes on the fall semester and on the college years of winter graduates, the next step in life - a career - begins to unfold for the fresh alumni.Some December graduates are still looking to find a place in the job market after walking across the stage.

Winny Wiszneauckas, a senior marketing/entrepreneurial management major, said she is still in the process of finding a job. Even though she graduates soon, she still isn't sure what the future holds for her.

Musicians have always influenced culture; the way we dress, speak, even the way we think and act. They are role models placed on a pedestal to be admired and, in some cases, practically worshipped by the masses. Musicians must realize their impact on listeners. In particular, young, impressionable minds - their core audience.

In the past, youngsters looked to rock stars for an example in bad behavior. Now, rap outshines rock, and the power of influence has shifted.

Rappers should be held responsible for many of the problematic trends they've started.

Thirteen is the number this holiday season. It's the name of the show produced and choreographed by 13 seniors, set to graduate in either May or December. The School for Classical and Contemporary Dance at TCU will present a senior showcase concert Dec. 4 and 5 at 7 p.m. The show, called "13.0," will be presented at the Studio B Theatre inside the TCU Ballet and Modern Dance Building.

The show consists of modern and ballet dances created by the students, said Susan Roberts, associate professor of modern dance.

Five studio art majors are displaying their artwork before a TCU audience for the last time before their December graduations. The Bachelor of Fine Arts Studio Art Senior Exhibition ends today after a week of showcasing a variety of projects.

Jennifer Dawson, a senior studio art major, said she was surprised by how many people came to the show.

"It was really exciting," Dawson said. "We didn't know how many people were going to show up."

The outcry over viewership of NFL games reached its crescendo last night when this year's two NFC powerhouses met up in Dallas on the NFL Network.It was the first matchup of 10-1 teams since the 90s and involved two of the most beloved franchises in all of sports, yet 2/3 of the U.S. was deprived due to the disgusting greed of rich men.

The NFL has gone from a home-grown game to an elitist sport more every year, but it has become increasingly alarming recently. The accessibility of the game to true fans that bleed their team colors tells the story.

TCU football has a player graduation rate 12 percent higher than the national average, a study found.According to a recent NCAA study on graduation rates, TCU is graduating an average of 78 percent of its senior football players, while the national average is 66 percent. The Horned Frogs also ranked in the top five for graduation success rates.

At TCU, student-athlete graduation rates are a top priority, head coach Gary Patterson said.