• I knew I didn't want my four kids to graduate from college with student loan debt.
• I started saving for college when my oldest was in the first grade, and it's not enough.
• With three more kids heading to college, I'm overwhelmed financially.

I was with my four kids on the playground one day, talking with the other moms. We were chatting about school, work, and tiptoeing around the subject of finances.

One of the moms mentioned saving for college, and it felt like cold water was poured on me. I had a vague idea about tax-advantaged college savings plans; our diligent financial advisor had surely discussed them in one of our meetings. But the numbers — the 529s, 401ks, and 403bs — all swam together in my head.

However, I was confronted by the fact that someone else with small children was already planning for college. I felt like we had just started saving for retirement, and now I had to start thinking about another future — four of them.

Did I have to start worrying about this already? If I wanted to be anywhere close to ready when they graduated from high school, I did.

That was years ago, and now that college is here, I'm worried we'll never have enough.

We knew college was going to be difficult for my large family

My parents remortgaged their house to pay for my college. While I hope it doesn't come to that, my family is in a difficult situation. My husband and I make too much money for grants. I am a freelance writer, picking up as many gigs as I can, and my husband is a small-business owner.

After the pandemic and online school, all of my kids' grades plummeted while their anxiety skyrocketed, so scholarships are not an option for them.

I also knew that I wanted my kids to leave college without any student loan debt that they'd be paying off for the next 20 years.

That meant college tuition fell on my husband and me. In two years, we'll have two college tuitions to pay. In the next seven years, we will be paying for all four of my kids to go to college.

We started saving years ago, and it's not enough

Shortly after that mom's group, I called my advisor, and we started college savings plans for each kid. We have been saving since my college freshman was in first grade.

We automatically withdraw $100 a month for each kid, which is $400 a month out of the budget. That's no chump change, but it's not even close to enough.

We saved $1,200 a year per kid for nearly 12 years. That's not even enough for one year of tuition, books, and room and board.

My oldest son started school in September. We saved $14,400 for him and used our state's 529 plan, so it was invested and grew to a little over $20,000. He attends an in-state public school, and those savings still weren't enough.

He works in the summer and on breaks to help with costs. For the remaining amount, my husband and I squeeze it out of our budget. We're on a payment plan, so it's broken up — $3,300 a month rather than $13,200 all at once at the beginning of the semester.

Getting a good education is still worth it

Education is a core value in my family. Going to college will afford my kids so many opportunities. Thankfully, my son is thriving at school. Despite the expense, despite my feelings of overwhelm, I still think it's worth going. He's happy, and he's learning a lot — both in his classes and about himself.

The finances aren't his concern right now. My husband's business is doing great, and I'm taking on more writing gigs and a couple of side hustles. There will be vacations closer to home, and the new bathroom that I've wanted for a while won't happen.

We will get through these next 10 years; we will just keep our heads down and pay the bills as they come in.

When the overwhelm starts to kick in again, I check my son's texts. The smiling photos with his college roommates and the video of his rugby club remind me all this is worth it.

• Stanford University recruited my son to be a college athlete.
• He feared he wouldn't fit academically at the school.
• My son decided to drop out and transfer, but at the last minute, he found friends and stayed.

My son has always been an athlete, and sports have always come easily to him. However, he has had a problem with confidence ever since he was 8. That was when he lost the use of most of his body due to Guillain Barre, an autoimmune condition that left him paralyzed and forced him to take almost a year out of his life to re-learn to walk.

That was a huge setback, both physically and mentally, and it left him with doubts about his ability. Still, Fabian has persevered and exceeded all expectations. Not only has he become an incredible athlete, but he became the state discus champion as a sophomore in high school. He went on to claim fourth place at the National Championships in Eugene, OR, in 2021. Still, that was just the beginning of his journey.

Following Nationals, we received our first recruiting call. It was from the coach at Stanford University, and while I could not contain my excitement, my son paled.

He felt like he hadn't earned the right to be a Stanford student.

My son had doubts from the onset

I encouraged Fabian to go with the process. It was still early. I told him to just talk to the coach and that no decisions needed to be made just yet. We scheduled the first recruiting call. As we sat on the couch, side by side, my son sweating profusely through the hour-and-a-half phone call, we heard about all the exciting things that Stanford could offer and watched videos of the incredibly beautiful college campus.

When we got off the call, I couldn't wait to talk to my son about this incredible opportunity. This is what he has worked so hard for. As I turned to him, he said, "I am not going there," with a note of finality in his voice. He walked into his room and shut the door.

As we talked, it became obvious that the old feelings of inferiority that started as an 8-year-old surfaced. He wasn't sure he could cut it at Stanford academically. He didn't think he belonged as a student; he thought the school only wanted him for his athletic ability.

We continued talking about his accomplishments, amazing grades, and growing accolades in his sport. He agreed to give it a chance, especially after we visited campus on a recruiting visit. The chill campus atmosphere seemed perfect for my laid-back son.

His imposter syndrome made his freshman year difficult

As we moved Fabian into the dorms at the start of his freshman year at Stanford, he seemed excited to begin his journey. I left California to return home to the East Coast feeling excited and hopeful for him. This lasted all of two weeks.

In our daily phone calls, I heard sadness in his voice as he told me how homesick he felt. I tried to hear and understand his feelings. Over and over, the theme of not feeling like he belonged there echoed in our conversations.

When Fabian came home for Thanksgiving, he sprained his ankle and tore a ligament in his foot. When he returned to school after the break, he became outright depressed as he sat in his room alone while his teammates traveled to competitions.

Already feeling like he didn't belong academically, he felt even more lost because the only reason he was at Stanford was to be a recruited athlete; now, he could not even participate in his sport.

When Fabian came home for Christmas, I received the message loud and clear: He was not interested in returning. He was done with Stanford.

Without the pressure, he's now thriving at Stanford

I was torn on how to support my son through this. I wanted him to understand he should not give up on this amazing opportunity that would open doors for his future.

We finally discussed options and settled on finishing the trimester and then transferring colleges. As the end of the trimester approached and I became increasingly anxious about my son's future, I noticed a change in him. The closer it came to him being able to come home, the more relaxed he became. It was as if the pressure was off. He excelled in his classes. He had a solid group of friends, and they were inseparable.

As my husband and I planned to leave for our cross-country trip to pick Fabian up from Stanford for the last time, he decided to stay. When the pressure was off, he could finally experience the sense of belonging that was missing all along.

He finally found his place at Standford and on his team. Fabian now has the chance to compete as a college athlete this year.

CONCORD, N.H. – Presidential electors are gathering at state capitals across the country on Tuesday to cast their electoral votes in the 2024 election, a key step in formalizing President-elect Trump’s White House victory last month over Vice President Kamala Harris.

At the New Hampshire Statehouse, the state’s four electors cast ballots on behalf of Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, in a largely ceremonial vote. 

Harris edged Trump by roughly three percentage points to carry New Hampshire, the only swing state in New England.

REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIR REVEALS WHAT ROLE TRUMP WILL PLAY IN 2026 MIDTERM ELECTIONS

"This is the formal vote for President and Vice President of the United States," New Hampshire Secretary of State Dave Scanlan, who presided over the procedure, said. "Every state in the country right now is going through this process."

New Hampshire was one of four states, along with Indiana, Tennessee and Vermont, to lead off Tuesday's Electoral College voting.

HEAD HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS RESULTS FROM THE 2024 ELECTIONS

When Americans cast their ballots in a White House election, they’re technically voting for state electors committed to supporting their choice for president and vice president. The electors are expected to vote in accordance with the outcome of the popular vote in their state. 

The electoral votes from the states will be certified on Jan. 6 during a joint session of Congress. And Trump will be inaugurated as president two weeks later, on Jan. 20.

The political parties in each state choose their slate of electors ahead of the general election. 

Trump convincingly won the presidential election, winning the popular vote for the first time in three tries, and carrying all seven of the crucial battleground states that were heavily contested. 

The former and future president ended up winning the electoral vote, 312 to 226, over Harris.

Several Senate Democrats are pushing a constitutional amendment to abolish the Electoral College and replace it with a presidential election system where the winner of the popular vote wins the White House contest.

Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, and Peter Welch, D-Vt., introduced the proposed amendment, according to a press release.

"In 2000, before the general election, I introduced a bipartisan resolution to amend the Constitution and abolish the Electoral College. I still believe today that it is time to retire this 18th century invention that disenfranchises millions of Americans," Durbin said, according to the release. "The American people deserve to choose all their leaders, and I am proud to support this effort with Senators Schatz and Welch to empower voters."

WHAT IS THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE? HOW DOES IT WORK?

"In an election, the person who gets the most votes should win. It’s that simple," Schatz stated. "No one’s vote should count for more based on where they live. The Electoral College is outdated and it’s undemocratic. It’s time to end it."

Welch claimed that "right now our elections aren't as representative as they should be because of the outdated and flawed electoral college."

GOP Sen. Mike Lee of Utah slammed the proposal, calling it "a phenomenally bad idea," in a post on X. "So naturally, Democrats are pushing it," he added.

MCCONNELL ISSUES SMACKDOWN OF KENTUCKY DEM GOVERNOR'S CALL TO ABOLISH THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE

Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., responded to the proposal by accusing the Senate Democrats of wanting "to trample the Constitution."

President-elect Donald Trump trounced Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, winning both the Electoral College and the popular vote.

But there have been elections in U.S. history in which the winner of the Electoral College did not win the popular vote.

TIM WALZ BACKPEDALS STATEMENT THAT THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE ‘NEEDS TO GO’

The most recent example was Trump's 2016 victory where former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton won the national popular vote but lost the Electoral College.

• My son is coming home from college for the first time this holiday season.
• I'm worried he won't listen to any of my rules, so I'm trying to adjust expectations.
• I do not expect him to hang out with me all the time, but he needs to be at certain events.

As a mom during the holiday season, I find myself busy and rushing to get everything done. The stockings have been hung, and the tree is trimmed. I'm getting a start on the cookies — and I'm also thinking about new rules.

My son is a college freshman and loves his new university so much that he didn't come home for Thanksgiving. That means when he arrives for winter break, it will be his first time in our house since mid-August. He's been on his own, adulting, for months now.

I imagine this first visit back home will be a readjustment for all of us because the rules of engagement have shifted. Here's how I plan to negotiate the holidays while welcoming him back to the nest.

Instead of restrictions, we'll set expectations

When he was younger, we had rules in place that set parameters for our son. Our kid knew there would be consequences if he stayed out late without calling first or took the car without permission.

Mutual respect and expectations for healthy behavior were central to our family's fabric. We adopted this approach to keep him safe. It also allowed him to develop responsibility and a sense of independence.

This holiday season, we'll give him freedom here at home. Of course we will have expectations, but I'm hesitant to saddle him with previous restrictions now that he's living a new, adult life not under our roof. Trust is as meaningful in parent-adult relationships as it is in the parent-child relationship.

We'll choose holiday non-negotiables carefully

I'm committed to being flexible and won't micromanage my son's schedule during the holiday break. However, we do have a few mandatory, must-not-miss holiday commitments.

Aunts, uncles, and cousins are all coming in from out of town, so there are several gatherings on our family's holiday calendar. My son will be at each of them, and this is non-negotiable.

That said, we've let him know in advance that his attendance is required. He's fully aware of the days and times of our family get-togethers, and it allows him to manage his schedule as he sees fit. Another adulting opportunity!

I'll try not to be too nosy

I'm a journalist. It's my job to have lots of questions about everything. But I know for the next several weeks, I'm going to have to ease up on my curiosity about my son's new life. The last thing my kid will want to do is face a barrage of inquiries about his college experience, new friends, classes, or what he's up to in his free time.

I'll be dying to ask, but I'll do my best not to. I certainly wouldn't interrogate an adult that way, and that's what my son is now. Rather, I'll wait for him to drop info, tidbits, or details about these past few months away from home. I'll listen and not interject. And I'll limit my mom feedback or advice — unless he specifically asks for it.

I won't be waiting up for him

I've never tracked my child's location through our phones, and I'm not about to start now that he's a full-fledged adult. What's more, I'm not going to wait up to make sure he sticks to curfew.

Because really, he doesn't have a curfew anymore. I expect him to use good judgment and keep himself safe. I won't watch the clock, wondering when he'll get home. All I'll expect is a quick knock on our bedroom door, so we know he made it back in one piece.

Sharing is caring

Finally, I'm well aware that other people are also anxiously waiting to see our son. His high school friends, who attend colleges all over the country, will also be in town and will want to get together. His schedule will likely be packed with reunions, visits, and hangs. While that means less time with his dad and me, I'm happy he'll reconnect with the people who've meant so much to him. I'm happy to share him, too.

Less time with us doesn't mean we're less important. Rather, his circle of loved ones has expanded. Knowing that is one of the greatest gifts the mom of a college kid can receive during the holidays.

• Bill Belichick's departure from the NFL to coach at the University of North Carolina is a big move.
• Belichick's deal highlights college sports' further shift toward professionalization.
• Name-image-likeness opportunities are reshaping college sports and changing the jobs of coaches.

Revered football coach Bill Belichick's departure from the NFL says a lot about the ascendance of college football amid lucrative sponsorships in the era of the transfer portal, fast-growing NIL opportunities, and revenue sharing within the NCAA.

Word on Wednesday that the eight-time Super Bowl champ signed a five-year agreement to serve as head coach of the University of North Carolina Tar Heels rocked the sports industry.

"We are embarking on an entirely new football operation," UNC Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham said at a press conference Thursday. He said Belichick's pro experience played a factor in his hire. "The future of college athletics is changing, and we want to be in the forefront of that."

The Athletic reported Belichick will be pocketing $10 million a year. UNC did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI.

Of course, college sports — and especially football — have always been big business. But recent changes underline the move toward allowing more money to flow into programs and athletes, and further professionalize what is still considered amateur athletics.

Scott Fuess, Jr., a professor of business at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln who studies the economics of college sports, told BI that Belichick's hire is "a very obvious, public-facing signal" of how college football is becoming more like the pros.

"What we're doing is we're NFL-izing collegiate football," he said.

Another indicator of the shift in college sports? More schools are hiring general managers for their football programs, Fuess said. Their focus is on bringing in talent and financing it, something that's all the more important in the name, image, and likeness — or NIL — era. NIL allows players to be paid by brands and other sponsors for the use of their name, image, or likeness.

Fuess said that in the upper ranks of collegiate football — specifically within the power conferences — "you're going to see arrangements that look more like NFL programs."

Belichick's move is part of a bigger trend

Belichick's hire isn't the only signal that managing a college sports team is looking a lot more like managing a pro team.

In September, longtime ESPN reporter Adrian Wojnarowski left the outlet to become general manager of the men's basketball program at St. Bonaventure University — where he went to school — to work on NIL deals and recruiting.

And Belichick will be getting some help at UNC from Michael Lombardi — a sports host and former NFL exec who said Wednesday night that he'll serve as the general manager of the Tar Heels program.

For Belichick, there are family ties to UNC. His father was an assistant football coach for the Tar Heels in the '50s. And The Guardian's Ollie Connolly, citing anonymous sources, reported last week that as part of his deal, Belichick sought a guarantee that his son would succeed him as head coach — which he reported that UNC is open to.

Patrick Rishe, executive director of the Sports Business Program at Washington University in St. Louis, told BI that Belichick's move doesn't necessarily portend an exodus of NFL coaches to college towns because Belichick's situation was unique.

"I don't think Alabama or Ohio State are going to be recruiting Andy Reid away from the Chiefs," he said, referring to Kansas City's head coach.

Still, Rishe said, his move is a reminder that coaches are free agents just as players are.

Rishe said one of the biggest forces animating college football's bulk-up is money flowing from NIL collectives. He said collective money, already used to recruit players, could also be directed toward bringing on coaches.

The collectives gather money from donors and distribute it to players. For example, at Fuess's University of Nebraska, the 1890 Initiative — its resident, independent NIL collective — raises money for athletes in exchange for donor perks like merch and invites to membership events. Its website says it partners with athletes "to help them build personal brands through athletic endorsements, brand partnerships, and NIL compliance protocols."

An expanded job

Fuess said that until recently, college athletes were limited in transferring to other programs. Now, that's no longer true because of the transfer portal window, which in October was reduced for Division I football and basketball players to 30 days. Because of that, he said, college coaches must work harder than ever to keep players happy.

"Their free agency is freer than in professional sports right now," he said, referring to college players.

Fuess, who also serves as his campus's faculty representative to its athletic department, said college coaches increasingly have to know how to spot talent, how to pay for it, and how to keep it.

That means there could be more people who come from the NFL, though they could also come from elsewhere in college athletics, he said, because the cultures of the NFL and college football are different. Plus, there's also NCAA revenue sharing in the wings, where, beginning next academic year, schools are expected to be able to share athletic department revenues with student-athletes.

"Collegiate sports is a little bit more of a wild wild west than the very buttoned-down world of the NFL," Fuess said.

He said that some college football programs seeking to ascend to the top or remain there are likely to do so by demonstrating big funding commitments or making high-profile hires.

Fuess pointed to a statement days ago by Purdue University President Mung Chiang introducing the Boilermakers' new football coach, Barry Odom, that the university would "invest more than ever before in athletics."

A hire like Belichick represents a similar move, Fuess said.

"Everybody knows his name. Everybody knows his coaching success. Everybody knows about him," he said.

If you want to remain a high-profile program, Fuess said, "you're going to want to demonstrate as best you can that you are committed to doing this."

• My son found his dream college at California State University Maritime Academy.
• He struggled to make friends on campus in his freshman year, and I tried to help.
• He ultimately realized he didn't fit in with the students on campus and dropped out.

It was like a whirlwind romance: finding the right college, applying, getting accepted, and finally moving in. My son was so happy with his college decision. Everything was magical — until it wasn't.

When my son, Jack, chose California State University Maritime Academy, it seemed like an absolutely perfect fit. He could major in oceanography, take classes aboard ships, and get hands-on experience. There were summer trips to Nicaragua to plant coral. I saw Facebook posts of students in Morocco holding monkeys. It appeared to be the college experience that everyone wanted for their child.

For a while, everything was perfect. Jack would wake up and go to "formation" in uniform at 7 a.m., and then he would take water samples around the bay to examine under microscopes in the lab.

It was a dream come true for Jack. As his mother, It was also a dream come true for me to see him so happy and creating a future for himself.

That was until the phone calls started, and he said he didn't fit in socially at the school.

"I want to come home"

A couple of months in, Jack told me he was having difficulty finding friends. I responded, "You will find your people. Keep trying."

He volunteered, joined clubs, and put himself out there. I mailed him cases of Girl Scout cookies to walk around and hand out; I mean, who doesn't love a free box of Thin Mints? He would leave his door open and offer his vacuum to people if they wanted to borrow it. He was trying at school, and I was trying from home. We are not quitters.

When winter break rolled around, he came home and told me he didn't want to return. I should have listened, but I didn't.

"You made a commitment; you need to see the year through," I told him.

Upon returning from break, he found that his roommate had moved out. Jack was given no warning and no reason. My son was crushed, and his self-esteem dipped even lower, but I kept encouraging him. However, he never found his tribe.

It wasn't until I visited the college campus that I realized the problem.

My son didn't fit in with the other students

Jack, who is gay, was at a very conservative college. Who he fundamentally is at his core doesn't seemingly match with the large percentage of conservative young men that attend the school.

The other kids were tackling each other in the halls and having Nerf wars, which Jack would have joined if he had felt welcomed. Instead, Jack was often quietly in his room with a video game. Sadly, it seemed he would never fit in, no matter how hard he tried.

The school itself wasn't bigoted or against LGBTQ+ people. The college had a gay-straight alliance club that Jack attended, along with the other nine kids

At its core, Jack said in his experience, the student body seemingly had different interests.

Jack enrolled in a community college back home

Ultimately, at the end of the year, Jack moved home and now attends a community college, where he is working on his general education requirements. If and when he is ready, we will work on finding a new college for him to transfer to.

I now advise high school students and their parents to look at the entire picture when choosing a college. Looking for the perfect academic program is fantastic, but not the end of the road when finding the right college to attend.

Kids need to examine the majors, the social life on campus, and the vibe of the surrounding city. The school's entire culture needs to be analyzed so students know what they will be in for on campus.

After his experience, Jack is somewhat disillusioned with the college experience. As a mother, I wish I had done more to find a better fit for him. There is nothing wrong with going to a community college, but for most, it's a stepping stone toward a four-year college.

I'm not sure Jack will be making that step, and that's OK — as long as it's what's best for him and he's with his people.

Editor's Note: California State University Maritime Academy declined a request for comment.

EXCLUSIVE: A Pennsylvania congressman fired off a scathing letter overnight to the University of Pennsylvania’s president demanding the firing of a left-wing professor whose social media posts lauded Luigi Mangione, the suspect accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

In his letter, GOP Rep. Dan Meuser called for Cinema & Media Studies professor Julia Alekseyeva’s firing and noted the university had just finished weathering another scandal relating to its soft response to antisemitic and pro-Hamas protests.

Alekseyeva made her online accounts private this week after blowback for saying – among other things – that she is proud to be a UPenn Quaker like the accused killer. Thompson's murder sparked a left-wing outcry depicting a simmering anger toward the insurance industry that led to online celebrations in other quarters.

Alekseyeva posted a TikTok video of herself smiling as "Do You Hear The People Sing?" from the French musical "Les Miserables" played. The play tells the story of a peasant imprisoned for stealing food and his ensuing quest for redemption. 

MEUSER BILL WOULD PROHIBIT US FINANCIAL AID TO AFGHANISTAN TIL ALL WRONGFULLY-DETAINED AMERICANS RELEASED

"I am writing to express my profound concern regarding the recent actions of Assistant Professor Julia Alekseyeva… which appear to celebrate the alleged actions of Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the tragic murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson," Meuser wrote to UPenn interim President J. Larry Jameson.

Meuser noted Alekseyeva proudly connected Mangione to the University City, West Philadelphia school and that she had labeled him "the icon we all need and deserve."

The educator, who was reportedly born in the Ukrainian USSR and moved with her family to Chicago in the 1990s, also refers to herself as a "socialist and ardent anti-fascist" on her website.

Meuser, seen as a potential top contender in the 2026 gubernatorial contest against Democrat Josh Shapiro, called Alekseyeva’s behavior "outrageous" and said it violates the "basic ideals of a civilized society."

In exclusive comments to Fox News Digital, Meuser said it is unacceptable for any educator to glorify acts of violence, especially at a high-level institution like UPenn.

"These actions undermine the core values of higher education and threaten the trust placed in our academic institutions," Meuser said.

SARA CARTER RECOUNTS ‘MIND-BLOWING’ INTERVIEWS WITH UPENN STUDENTS FOLLOWING PRESIDENT'S RESIGNATION

The lawmaker, who represents the Coal Region and part of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, said he is a fan of the Quakers but expects answers from Jameson in order to ensure further federal support for the school.

"Your response will dictate how my colleagues and I support allocating future federal funding for research at the University of Pennsylvania," he wrote in the letter, calculating $936 million in federal research grants in 2023.

"[This] forces Congress to question whether safeguards are in place to ensure that faculty conduct reflects the ethical and professional standards in line with the University’s reputation as a center of excellence and thought leadership."

He also asked Jameson whether Alekseyeva was found to have used university property in making her pronouncements, whether other faculty made similar gestures of support for Mangione and what other steps are being taken to prevent such scandals in the future.

The school has until the end of the year to respond, he said. 

Fox News Digital reached out to UPenn for comment. 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The school’s deputy dean of its Arts & Sciences school said in a Wednesday statement the university is aware of concerns over Alekseyeva’s posts and that they are "antithetical to the values" of UPenn.

"Upon reflection, Assistant Professor Alekseyeva has concurred that the comments were insensitive and inappropriate and has retracted them. We welcome this correction and regret any dismay or concern this may have caused," Dean Jeffrey Kallberg said, according to the New York Post.

Mangione, a member of a large and well-connected Baltimore family, was captured following a tip from a customer visiting a McDonald's off Interstate 99 in Blair County, Pa.

• Everyone thought my twins would be close, but growing up, they ran in different circles.
• They decided to go to the same college by chance, and I didn't expect them to be friends.
• But for the first time, they are voluntarily hanging out with each other regularly, and I'm happy.

As the mother of 19-year-old boy/girl twins, I've noticed that people's assumptions about twins are often wrong. To be clear, I'm sure some of the common twin myths apply to others, but so far, not mine.

The biggest misconception about twins? They're best friends who are constantly in each other's orbit, sharing the same brain. People assume that because they share a birthday, they must be alike in every way.

That's not the case with my twins. In fact, they are opposites. During their freshman year of high school, classmates were often shocked to find out they were siblings. My daughter is outgoing and extroverted, while her twin is quiet and introverted. One of their teachers, who had them both in the same class, remembered my daughter but not my son — not because he wasn't there, but because my daughter was so talkative.

But all that changed for the first time when they decided to go to the same college.

My twins didn't plan to go to college together

The latest presumption about them is that they planned to go to the same college. Again, this is a mistake. Their decision to attend the same school wasn't intentional; it just worked out that way.

Before they selected a school, I was sure they would go to different colleges. Their interests are vastly diverse, and they only applied to a few of the same schools, mostly because of the free college application offers.

So, when they committed to the same college, I thought: Maybe they will become the mythical twins I've heard about all these years.

I wondered if someday they might be best friends

While my kids were still gestating within my womb, strangers shared their twin dogmata. I'd hear some variation of, "They'll always have each other." In theory, that's a beautiful sentiment, but would it be true for my twins?

As they grew older, they began to spend more time apart than together, though there were exceptions.

One day, when my daughter was 6, she proudly told me, "We sat together on the bus today."

"Finally!" I said. "You've been taking the bus together for two years and never sat together."

"There were no other seats," she said. Ah, that made more sense.

This exchange pretty much sums up their relationship over the years. They've always been friendly with each other, but there was no magical twin connection. They share the same 50% DNA as any other sibling — the only difference is that they spent nine months living in close quarters. And according to the ultrasounds, that situation wasn't always ideal, with my son's head pressed up against his sister's. Maybe that's why they crave some independence.

I thought they would lead separate lives at the same college

At first, it seemed like their paths would continue separately in college. They chose different college dorms, different majors, and different friends. My daughter's room was decorated with lights, posters, pillows, and plants, while my son's room had little more than a bare concrete wall and a comforter. That, too, summed up their different personalities.

But then something changed. About a month into the semester, my daughter told me they had a plan.

"We decided to meet for dinner once a week," she said, "to try out restaurants in the city."

My children go to college in New York City, and since they're both foodies, this idea made sense. But I couldn't help feeling a small thrill.

Over the next several months, they explored Asian, Mexican, and Italian restaurants. But aside from their weekly dinner meetups, they rarely saw one another. As their shared birthday approached, I found myself wondering: Would they spend it together or apart?

"For our birthday," my daughter told me, "I booked a reservation at an Asian restaurant for us and some of our friends."

I was stunned into silence. It was hard to imagine that my babies, who used to run in opposite directions as toddlers, would now be planning something like this.

They are still on their separate paths but found a way to connect

Despite their differences, my twins have carved out a space for each other in their lives, even if it's not in the way people expect.

While I'm trying to taper my giddiness, I'm simply comforted, knowing that — despite the miles between us — they have each other.

• I paused my college education when I was younger to get married and again to start a family.
• I always knew I'd go back, and I decided to re-enroll at 42.
• I never expected my daughter would go to the same college.

I never thought of myself as a college dropout. I started right after high school, and after three misguided semesters, I paused to move out of state and get married. I tried again four years later, taking night classes after work, and quit again to start a family. I knew I would finish when the timing was right.

When the pandemic shut the world down, I decided it was time. At the age of 42, I enrolled in community college, majoring in mass communications, thinking I could at least get a two-year degree. After that, I could decide to keep moving forward or take yet another break.

I went back to school, and my daughter chose the same college

This time around, I was a better student. I graduated with my associate's degree the same month my daughter Siri graduated from high school, and my son Judah finished 5th grade. I didn't want to lose my educational momentum, so I applied to transfer to a four-year school closeby and keep moving forward.

Siri had big plans to leave the South for college — or at least to leave the state. But even with generous scholarship offers from the out-of-state schools she had applied to, she couldn't do that without accruing student debt. Middle Tennessee State University offered her enough scholarship money to cover her tuition, books, and then some. And because it happens to be the four-year state school within a reasonable drive from our house, she would know at least one person there: her mom.

We worried it would be weird

I had my worries, and she did, too. Would it be embarrassing to have me around? Would I be a wet blanket in her college experience? Would people think I followed her there as an extreme helicopter parent? I asked if I should pretend not to see her if we ran into each other.

"No, Mom," she said. "Be normal."

Her freshman year — also my junior year — started in fall 2023. With different majors in different departments, we were rarely in the same building. She lived on campus, and I commuted, so we didn't even park in the same lots. Our only shared space was the library.

Dorm life infected Siri with homesickness, and after 18 years with her by my side, life at home wasn't the same. We started meeting for weekly lunch or coffee dates and texted each other constantly. After years of saying, "I'm your mom, not your friend," I admitted that was something I thought I was supposed to say. Of course, in actuality, she's my best friend.

Going to the same school has only enhanced our experience

Siri studies political science and pre-law. I'm a journalism major and work as an editor for the school newspaper. She joined as a reporter this semester. I tell people she probably figured it couldn't be too hard if I did it, but really, whenever she said it sounded fun, I tried to rope her in. Now we're on the same team and share some friends. She's not too embarrassed to hug me in the newsroom, although she calls me Shauna there instead of Mom.

Siri is nothing like I was the first time I tried college. I had no motivation and no direction. She's ambitious, with plans to head to law school after graduation. If my mom had shown up on campus during my freshman year, I would have been mortified. Siri has handled the situation with infinite grace.

I feel so lucky to have her as a part of my late-blooming college experience, and I think she feels the same way. She will graduate a year early, in May 2026. I'll graduate this May, but she keeps asking me to slow down so we can don caps and gowns together. (She thinks the pictures would be cute.) My graduation is the day before Mother's Day, and if my family wants to take me out to celebrate both days, I won't say no. I've earned it.

Along with my husband and son, Siri is my biggest cheerleader. When I feel like I can't do it all, she lifts me up. Between choosing to stay at home with my kids instead of working full-time and the coincidence of going to school together, I've had the best of both worlds in a way most parents could never imagine.

Next year, Siri will be a senior. Judah will be in 8th grade, and I will (hopefully) be working full-time for a newspaper, magazine, or radio station. When Judah starts college, he won't have to worry about running into his mom in the library.

Or maybe by then, I'll be ready for grad school.

• My twin sons have just graduated from high school and are choosing their college majors.
• One son switched from wanting to study law to pursuing philosophy.
• Other parents told me it was a huge mistake, but my own college experience taught me otherwise.

My twin 18-year-old sons have just graduated from high school, and we've spent months navigating the college application process.

We live in Australia, and majors are chosen as part of the application process here, so there is a lot of pressure to make the right decision from the outset. They have attended college open days, and their school has run information sessions throughout the last few years to assist in decision-making.

While Thomas has been set on his choice for a long time, his twin, Charlie, has been more indecisive and unsure.

Charlie's journey started in a law firm but took an unexpected turn

In 10th grade, he interned at a friend's law practice and seemed destined for law school. His experience there was positive, and he spoke enthusiastically about pursuing a legal career.

We were shocked when, a few months ago, he told us he wanted to pursue a philosophy major instead. I was disappointed and very concerned that Charlie was limiting his future job opportunities, and we had many discussions asking him to reassess this choice.

My parents were particularly dismayed by this pivot and actively tried to dissuade him from making this choice.

My wife reminded me of my own college regrets

I had always wanted to be a writer, but my parents convinced me to enroll in an accounting and economics major as there were more opportunities in that industry. I hated those subjects and unsurprisingly failed — subsequently wasting a year of college.

Eventually, I switched to a marketing major, which I enjoyed, and my marks and experience improved accordingly.

Reflecting on that experience, I didn't want to push Charlie into a decision that would make him miserable at college, so we encouraged him to apply for whatever he was passionate about.

The reaction from other parents was swift and critical

Last month, at their high school graduation ceremony, I discussed Charlie's situation with other parents. While a few parents agreed with allowing Charlie to choose, most parents were shocked by our permissive approach.

We received lots of advice and were urged to ask Charlie to change his application. I was surprised at how worried other parents were. They were adamant that switching from law to another degree was a huge mistake.

It raised some doubts in my mind, but I knew we had to ignore them and stick with what we believed was best for Charlie.

Charlie is becoming nimble and adaptable

Reassured by the support of my wife and me, Charlie has switched majors — not to law but to sports management. I think he has visions of becoming Jerry Maguire.

When I updated other parents on this switch, they still said it was a mistake not to pursue law and that sports management is too niche of a field. I felt a little sorry for their children, who may be forced down a path they don't wish to undertake.

Reflecting on my own experience, I know what it's like to study a course you are not interested in.

Looking at Charlie's journey from law to philosophy to sports management might seem concerning to some parents. However, this exploration of different fields shows he's thinking about his future and aligning this with his interests.

The ability to adapt and pivot is increasingly valuable in today's workplace. Each of Charlie's shifts builds different skills that could serve him well in any future career.

My journey from failed accounting student to marketing professional to full-time writer proves that careers are adaptable. I spent 20 years in marketing before finally pursuing my passion for writing full-time.

What matters most isn't the major you choose at 18 but developing critical thinking skills, adaptability, and a passion for what you do.

Charlie has our full support, regardless of where his path leads

Whether he becomes a sports agent, a philosophy teacher, returns to law, or discovers an entirely different passion, supporting his choices now will lead to better outcomes than forcing him down a path he doesn't want to pursue.

We hope he is happy and loves his future job as much as I love mine now.

• My son is in his first semester of college, and we never talked about a communication schedule.
• I don't want to reach out to him often because I want to give him space, so I wait for him to call.
• As an empty nester, I wish we could talk more, but I'm glad he's becoming independent.

Dropping my son off at college this fall was tough. Despite my best efforts, it was the most inelegant of farewells. I kept my sunglasses on, tried not to crumple completely, and waved goodbye as he set off for meetings on campus.

Then, I promptly found the nearest bench for a proper sob before catching the train back to the airport. Like I said, inelegant.

In the weeks since, I've adjusted fairly well to my empty nest. I've started redecorating my son's bedroom and am generally getting used to not having him under our roof. It's a transition, to be sure.

While his dad and I had a lot of talks with him in the lead-up to drop-off, one thing we didn't discuss was communication. So, I've been plagued with one question in his absence: How much is too much when it comes to keeping tabs on your college kid? Here's what I've learned.

I'm trying not to spam him

I didn't hear from my son at all that first long weekend. There were zero calls, FaceTime chats, or even texts. I was tempted to reach out but realized my discomfort wasn't worth spamming him.

I wanted my son to have fun, get used to his new college campus, hang out with his roommates, and not worry about how I was doing back home.

When he finally called me several days later, I was overjoyed. I could tell by the tone of his voice he was thriving and thrilled to be in his new home. I felt great, but once I hung up, I was uneasy and unsure when I'd hear from him again.

I put the ball in his court, so he's reaching out first

Many of my friends set aside a specific day or two during the week for a family FaceTime or call with their college kids. They were far smarter than me.

Because we never really formalized a comms plan, I still find myself hesitating when it comes to contacting my son. Don't get me wrong: When he calls, I immediately answer. When he sends a text, it often becomes an extended conversation. But almost always, he's the one initiating.

He knows his dad and I are always here and available, but we want him to become independent. That means respecting his boundaries and putting the communication ball in his court.

It's one of the hardest things to get used to as our relationship evolves, but it's a necessary shift.

There are other ways to connect

While we no longer speak every day, I've kept in touch with my son in other ways. I'll send occasional care packages or order an Instacart delivery to his dorm if he's running short on snacks.

I had a blast attending his parent's weekend a few weeks ago, especially when he showed me around his new campus. His father and I also dropped him the occasional card or letter via good old snail mail.

The bottom line is that he knows I'm thinking of him, even if we don't connect daily.

I remind myself that it's not personal

When I start feeling sad or overly nostalgic, I immediately snap back, knowing my kid is studying, writing, and growing into the person he's meant to be. He's busy, as he should be in his first year away.

I also remind myself about my own relationship with my parents; I certainly don't check in with either of them every day. This doesn't mean I don't love them or vice versa. It means I've long been an actualized adult, no longer dependent on them.

That's what he's becoming, too. In his case, he's made it clear he doesn't need constant parental contact getting in the way. I understand that, and I know it's not personal or meant to be hurtful. It's all part of the normal transition process from child to adult, making me all the prouder of him.

Even if I wish he'd call me a bit more often.

• My husband and I bought a storage unit business because we couldn't afford my daughter's college.
• The business is nothing like I expected, and the customers are real characters who are difficult.
• Although it can be a hard business to run, it pays for itself and for our daughter's tuition.

The good news is that I have a new pizza oven. The bad news is that it's bigger than my kitchen and weighs a ton.

It belonged to a restaurant owner who closed up shop, moved his equipment into a space at my storage-unit business, and then relocated to Eastern Europe. Before he left, he canceled his credit card payment.

A friend advised me to auction the pizza oven off. But my business is in a rural area, and no one here wants my oversize oven. In fact, I contacted every restaurant within a 40-mile radius offering this behemoth for free. I even called the local senior center and some churches just in case they wanted to add pizza production to their service offerings. No takers.

This is just one of the problems I now face as the unlikely owner of a storage-unit business.

We bought the business to make money for college tuition

When our daughter, Lauren, was born, my husband and I started a savings account to finance her college education. It's a great idea on paper, but by the time she was in middle school, we realized our efforts had been mostly thwarted by life's unexpected financial emergencies. Our savings would barely cover one year of college and then would be gone.

At a family meeting, we decided that instead of taking on student loans, we'd rather go into debt buying a business that would generate cash flow.

We found a fixer-upper mini storage business for sale and used Lauren's college savings as seed money to make the down payment. We paid $325,000, and it was a huge risk.

Owning a storage unit business is nothing like I expected

Before we bought the business, I assumed people would store their stuff, pay their rental fees, and eventually move on. I visualized a cycle of mostly passive income with the occasional hiccup that comes with any entrepreneurial project. I doubted that I'd get to know my customers because we wouldn't have much interaction.

Reality has been different. My phone number is posted on the side of a building. When people call about renting a unit, I'm the one who answers. I've learned that moving in or out of a storage facility often coincides with a life-changing event. People tell me their stories. They start new businesses and need space to store supplies. Spouses die, and survivors want to hold on to precious keepsakes. Moms get fed up with overflowing closets and want an orderly household. Renters get evicted and need to store furniture until they figure out a housing solution.

One man called in a panic. His U-Haul was full, and he wanted to unload it immediately. An hour later, after he dumped his mess and locked the door, he told me he was a landlord and that his tenant hadn't paid rent in a year. Courts had just given him possession of his property, but he was still required to store his tenant's possessions for a certain period of time. A month later, when his bill was due, he told me he wouldn't pay.

"Contact my tenant," he said. The tenant told me she didn't want the stuff either. Since my husband was out of town, Lauren and I shoveled out the unit — half-eaten pop tarts, soiled diapers, and wet laundry, along with every conceivable household item. We donated what was salvageable and took the rest to the landfill.

I also talk with customers when they can't pay their bills. One customer calls monthly to ask for extensions, and during our conversations, we've gotten to know each other. I learned he was feeding a colony of feral cats, and the expense of all that food was bankrupting him. Another customer called after he moved across the country. He said it didn't make sense to come back to California just to retrieve "that old junk." But then he told me that his mom's ashes were in his unit and started to cry.

Sometimes, I talk people out of renting units. One potential customer had just split up with her boyfriend, and as I explained the cost of renting storage space, I sensed her reluctance. She was worried about money. "Are you sure you want this space?" I asked. "What if you had a garage sale instead?"

"That's a great idea," she said. And just like that, I lost a customer.

Though it's difficult, the business works for us

Owning a mini storage business has been more interesting and challenging than I thought it would be.

So far, the income the business generates covers all its expenses and just enough to pay for college. It's enabled my family to pay for our daughter's college expenses without going into debt, and I've learned interesting lessons about business and humanity.

And if I ever need a fallback plan, it's given me a perfect leg up to start a pizzeria.

• A Pew Research Center analysis shows the largest occupations for young US workers without degrees.
• Men often work as drivers or in construction, while women work in customer service or nursing roles.
• College enrollment rates have declined in recent years.

Customer service representatives and truck drivers are the most common jobs for young women and men without a four-year degree, respectively.

Men and women between the ages of 25 and 34 who don't have college degrees also work as construction laborers, health aides, cashiers, and chefs, per a Pew Research Center analysis published in July.

There was little overlap in the most common jobs for young men and women without a college degree, but the two groups did share two roles: first-line supervisors of sales workers and retail salespersons.

Roles like these have become particularly prevalent for men, whose college enrollment rates have fallen behind women's in recent years.

Forty-seven percent of US women between the ages of 25 and 34 have a bachelor's degree compared to 37% of men, per a Pew analysis published in November. However, overall college enrollment rates have fallen in recent years: The share of male high school graduates between the ages of 16 and 24 enrolling in college has declined to 58% as of 2023 from 67% in 2018, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Young women's enrollment rate has declined to 65% from 71% over this period.

Many of these young people are seeking jobs that don't require a college degree, and some have benefited from companies dropping degree requirements. The share of US job postings that require at least a college degree has fallen to 17.8% from 20.4% in 2019, according to an Indeed report published earlier this year. To be sure, many employers still prioritize hiring workers with a college diploma.

The Pew report published in July also highlighted the most common job categories for Americans with a four-year college degree. Four occupation categories were among the 10 most common jobs for both men and women: software developers, managers, accountants and auditors, and elementary and middle school teachers.

Are you looking for a job and comfortable sharing your story with a reporter? Please fill out this form.

• Since I don't have children, I opened college savings accounts for my two nieces and one nephew.
• It's a college savings account, but I won't force them into college; they can do what they want.
• I hope the kids understand the true cost of college tuition.

I love sharing quality time and new experiences with people I love. Naturally, when I became an aunt, my new experiences included my two nieces and one nephew.

When my nephew expressed interest in football, I took him to a field where we practiced kicking field goals. When my niece wanted to make her Halloween costume, I spent an evening taking her store to store, finding the supplies she needed.

As an aunt, I see it as my mission to support their parents. The parents had already spent a full week feeding the kids, ensuring they were clean and properly dressed for school, and going to endless soccer practices. Their parents don't also need to spend their Saturday teaching a kid how to hold a tennis racket.

To further support their parents, I opened college savings accounts eight years ago for my nieces and nephew. My goal is to pay for one-third of their expenses — based on the cost of tuition and a dorm at the University of Minnesota.

My husband and I have two incomes and no kids. We have some extra money to tuck aside and help our nieces and nephew.

It took me 15 years to pay off my own student loans

I was lucky to have parents who helped and a low student loan interest rate. I also went to Western Washington University, a school frequently called a good value — and it was.

I graduated with less than $30,000 in student loans, which took me 15 years to pay off. It wasn't debilitating, but a monthly payment stung each month.

I hear horror stories from people whose loan balances are increasing despite making payments.

I don't want that for anyone — especially my nephew and nieces.

I want them to know they can go to school — if they want to

My nephew, the oldest, is 12, but he's already aware that the cost of a college education can be prohibitive. I don't want him to worry that he won't be able to go, but I don't want to force him, either. The money I saved for him will be his regardless of his higher education endeavors.

Admittedly, I haven't formulated how they will get the money out of their accounts if they don't use it for school. They might want the money to start a business, buy a home, or raise children. Withdrawing it for those reasons would come with a tax bill and penalty, which would come off the amount they receive.

I support them using the money for purposes like those — but they'll have to get their use approved since I control the accounts.

I'll probably require an age requirement for cash distributions because I know if I were given thousands of dollars at 18, I would have spent it on something frivolous.

I want them to understand the true cost of higher education

I believe that kids should contribute to their own higher education so they value it and the opportunities it offers.

It's really easy to spend someone else's money. But I want to invest in them and their futures, not sponsor their playtime. Sure, study abroad if you can. Take a few fun classes. But I want them to progress toward that degree because auntie's money won't last forever.

I also want them to know that different schools have different price tags. The kids will know their money will go further if they take advanced placement classes in high school or earn credits at a community college, but it won't go as far at a private university.

The choice is theirs to make, and I'll be there to support them every step of the way.

• In the 2024 election, Donald Trump won 312 electoral votes to Kamala Harris' 226 electoral votes.
• Each candidate sought to present themselves as the better steward of the economy.
• But President-elect Trump emerged victorious, sweeping the seven major battleground states.

Headed into Election Day, the presidential race between Vice President Kamala Harris and Donald Trump appeared deadlocked, with polls showing a close race across the seven swing states.

But Trump came out on top, with the president-elect sweeping the battleground states and making critical gains among a broad slice of the electorate, from young voters and Latino men to suburban voters and rural voters.

The president-elect's victory came as he retained his long-standing advantage on economic issues through Election Day.

Here's a look at why the 2020 race between President Joe Biden and Trump was such a departure from this year's contest between Harris and Trump.

Trump made significant inroads in the suburbs, where the economy was a key issue

In 2020, Biden emerged victorious in the suburbs, winning over voters in this key group 50% to 48%, according to CNN exit polling.

Harris was hoping that strong support from suburban voters, especially among college-educated women, would aid her, with her campaign banking that her prosecutorial background would match up well against that of Trump — who has been embroiled in an array of legal issues over his push to overturn the 2020 election results.

While Harris performed well in many of the suburbs that paved the way for Biden's 2020 election, she simply did not win by the margins she needed to overcome Trump's burst in support from white voters without college degrees, as well as the drop-off in support from Latino and Asian voters compared to the president's performance.

This year, Trump won suburban voters 51% to 47%, per CNN exit polling, a four-point edge that allowed him to hold the line in areas where Democrats were hoping to run up the score. And the shift allowed him to flip Maricopa County, and thus, win back Arizona, which had been one of Biden's most impressive victories in 2020.

Similar to other groups, the economy was critical for suburban voters, with inflation and housing costs being paramount. In Arizona, a state dominated by Phoenix and its vast Maricopa-anchored suburbs, the economy was the second-most important issue for voters, only trailing the issue of democracy.

According to CNN exit polling, 42% of the Arizona electorate said the economy was in "poor" condition, and 89% of those voters backed Trump, compared to 10% for Harris. By comparison, only 6% of respondents considered the economy to be "excellent," and 99% of those voters supported Harris, with only 1% backing Trump.

Trump hammered home an economic message centered on lowering costs, forging ahead with new housing construction on federal land, and cutting government relations that he said hampered growth. In western states like Arizona and Nevada, where housing affordability has been a major issue, the issue took on added resonance. Harris had high-profile economic proposals of her own, including a $25,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers, but it wasn't enough to swing the race.

Turnout declined in key Democratic areas

After Biden exited the race in July and Harris stepped into her role as the Democratic Party's standard bearer, she was faced with running a 107-day campaign. While Harris had been Biden's No. 2 for over three years at that point, she was still unfamiliar to a considerable slice of the electorate.

Despite Biden's decline in support with groups that had fueled his 2020 victory — which included Black, Latino, and young voters — he was a known commodity. And Harris, in many ways, had to reintroduce herself to millions of Americans who were open to backing her but had reservations about the Biden administration on issues like inflation and border security.

From Harris' first major rally as a 2024 presidential candidate in Wisconsin to her Election eve turnout push in vote-rich Philadelphia, she crisscrossed the swing states, aiming to hold on to the blue wall battleground states while also eyeing gains in the Sun Belt.

But compared to 2020, turnout declined on the Democratic side.

Four years ago, the Biden-Harris ticket won over 81 million votes, compared to 74 million votes for Trump and then-Vice President Mike Pence. So far, Harris has earned just under 75 million votes, compared to a little over 77 million votes for Trump.

Democratic strength in New Jersey and New York fell sharply, with Harris faring worse than Biden in those solidly blue states.

Voters did boost their numbers in several key battlegrounds, though.

Georgia hit a turnout record of almost 5.3 million voters this year, and despite Harris losing the state by 2.2 points (50.7% to 48.5%), she earned more votes in the Peach State than Biden did when he won the state by 0.23 percent (49.47% to 49.24%) in 2020.

Harris won 2,548,017 votes in Georgia this year, compared to Biden's 2,473,633 votes four years ago. But Trump won 2,663,117 votes this year, giving him a 115,100-vote advantage over Harris.

In Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, more votes were tallied between the two major-party candidates this year compared to 2020, but this didn't benefit Harris as Democratic strength declined in cities like Detroit and Philadelphia.

For example, Harris won Philadelphia, the most populous city in Pennsylvania, by a hefty 79% to 20% margin. But in 2020, Biden won Philadelphia 81% to 18%. And while Biden earned 604,175 votes in the city, Harris currently has 568,571 votes there, according to NBC News.

Turnout fell across Philadelphia this year, allowing Trump to post gains in what has long been known as one of the most Democratic cities in the country.

• Guy Fieri's youngest son, Ryder, gets to choose what the family eats whenever he's back from college.
• That's because food "just doesn't taste the same as it does at home," Fieri told People, recalling his son's words.
• Some colleges, like UCLA, have gained a reputation for serving good campus food.

Guy Fieri's youngest son, Ryder, is back from college and ready to indulge in his dad's cooking.

During an interview with People published on Tuesday, Fieri spoke about how his teenager is adjusting to college life at San Diego State University.

There's just one thing he misses, though: His dad's cooking.

"He has a good meal program there at San Diego State, but he says it just doesn't taste the same as it does at home. And I'm like, man, that brings tears to my eyes," Fieri told People. "I think if you're staying in a dorm, it never compares to home."

The Food Network star says that his son gets to decide what's for dinner since he's back for the holidays.

"He sets a menu," Fieri said, referring to his son. "He'll write down his list of what he'd like to have: 'So do you think on Friday night we could have this?'"

Although his youngest son currently lives in a college dorm, Fieri says he "can't wait" for him to get an apartment.

"But when he has an apartment, I'm going to be like the old Italian nonna that's going to be packaging him up the cooler to take back. 'Here's four blocks of chili. Here's your marinara, here's your chicken marsala,'" Fieri said.

Fieri also has an older son, Hunter, 28, whom he shares with his wife, Lori.

Campus dining halls aren't typically seen as places with good food, but some colleges have gained a reputation for serving dishes that are a cut above the rest.

Niche, a company that compiles information on schools, has published a list of the 2025 Best College Food in America based on reviews from students and alums.

UCLA — where yearly meal plans cost between $5,301 and $6,614.28 — tops the list. Ranked in second place is the University of Massachusetts Amherst, followed by Virginia Tech in third place.

In a personal essay for Business Insider, a mother of two college-bound sons suggested that parents visit the dining hall to see if the school is the right fit for their child.

"If prospective students cannot see themselves at one of the tables, want to sit down with a group, or otherwise find someone who could be their friend, that college might not be the best fit," Cristine Struble wrote.

A representative for Fieri did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by Business Insider outside regular hours.

New research from the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) and Rutgers University reveals that some diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training methods may cause psychological harm.

The study, released on Monday, shows significant increases in hostility and punitive attitudes among participants exposed to DEI pedagogy covering subjects like race, religion and caste.

This hostile attribution bias may contribute to increased intergroup hostility and authoritarian behavior in the long run, according to study co-author and NCRI Chief Science Officer Joel Finkelstein.

"What we did was we took a lot of these ideas that were found to still be very prominent in a lot of these DEI lectures and interventions and training," said Finkelstein in an interview with Fox News Digital. "And we said, ‘Well, how is this going to affect people?’ What we found is that when people are exposed to this ideology, what happens is they become hostile without any indication that anything racist has happened."

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A Pew Research Center study from 2023 found that 52% of American workers have DEI training events or meetings at work and, according to Professor Iris Bohnet with the Harvard Kennedy School, $8 billion is spent annually on such programs.

As DEI programs have become a major area of investment in recent years, their actual effectiveness remains a topic of debate, with NCRI's study suggesting they may exacerbate tensions rather than alleviate them. The study measured "explicit bias, social distancing, demonization, and authoritarian tendencies" with both the DEI materials and control materials.

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Their study included sharing anti-racist DEI materials from thought leaders like Ibram X. Kendi and "White Fragility" author Robin DiAngelo with participants involved. Specifically, the NCRI focused on materials which emphasized awareness of and opposition to "systemic oppression," popularized by texts such as Kendi’s "How to Be an Antiracist."

Those exposed to anti-racist materials were linked to heightened perceptions of racial bias in the study. Participants were also more likely to support punitive measures against perceived offenders of so-called "microaggressions," even in the absence of evidence.

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"And when people are supposed to see anti-racist material in the ideology, it looks like what happens is that they become more likely to punish for any evidence of wrongdoing," said Finkelstein. "That includes protesting people, calling for dismissal, demanding public apologies, receiving people calling for their relocation. These punitive measures are, in some cases, costing people their jobs."

DEI programming psychological harms go beyond race according to NCRI's study, spanning to religious identities as well. According to the study, anti-Islamophobia training led participants to detect bias against Muslims in neutral scenarios.

The NCRI used materials from the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU), which "provides objective research and education about American Muslims to support well-informed dialogue and decision-making," according to its website.

IBRAM X. KENDI'S ANTIRACISM CENTER SAW POOR FINANCIAL ADMIN DECISIONS, FORMER STAFFERS SAY: REPORT

These results suggest that anti-Islamophobia training inspired by ISPU materials may cause individuals to assume unfair treatment of Muslim people, even when no evidence of bias or unfairness is present. This effect highlights a broader issue: DEI narratives that focus heavily on victimization and systemic oppression can foster unwarranted distrust and suspicions of institutions and alter subjective assessments of events.

One key takeaway from Finkelstein in the NCRI study is that the authoritarianism that comes from hostile attribution bias looks different in the 21st century. 

According to Finkelstein, those who are likely to carry hostilities are "people who are higher in what's called left-wing authoritarianism. This is now a steady phenomenon. We the people have been studying right-wing authoritarianism since World War II. It's really only in the past 10 or 15 years that people have started saying, 'Wait a minute, this is on the left, too."

Across all groupings, instead of DEI materials reducing bias, the study discovered they engendered a hostile attribution bias amplifying perceptions of prejudicial hostility where none was present.

"They're bad ideas, because they're hurting people; and that appears from research and appears to be far more prevalent and is shockingly public, these harms can be extremely widespread," said Finkelstein. "So I think that is grounds to believe that from this research, and it suggests that we need to be focused on this data, and we need more data like it. [But we can] start evaluating what's happening here, and I don't think this is about speech. I certainly think it's about people's civil rights."

Representatives DiAngelo did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

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When reached for comment, Kendi slammed both Fox News and the study, calling it "pseudoscience." 

"It comes as no surprise that Fox News would broadcast this pseudoscience that isn’t peer-reviewed, misrepresents my work, and is based on anchoring bias," Kendi said. "This so-called study will end up in the historic landfill of pseudoscience alongside other attempts to bring scientific legitimacy to racist propaganda that anti-slavery and civil rights then, and DEI and antiracism now have been harmful."

Fox News' Bradford Betz contributed to this report.

• When my son came home from college, he spent the night at a friend's house without telling me.
• We learned that communication is the most important — even though he is more independent now.
• We are still learning the balance between friend time and family time.

My son went to college about an hour and a half away, which was far enough away that he needed to live on campus. But it was close enough that he could pop home for a weekend. I was thrilled.

One of the first times he returned home over the holidays, he visited a high school friend in the evening. When I woke up in the morning, his bed was empty. I knew, logically, that he was probably still at his friend's. But as his mother, I was worried.

When he came home later that morning, we talked. He said they'd stayed up late chatting. It was snowing. He decided to stay over but didn't want to text at 2 a.m. and wake me up. These were all very reasonable decisions.

I told him I knew he didn't have to tell anyone if he went to a friend's on-campus dorm or apartment and ended up crashing for the night. But when he's home, his parents worry. I'd much rather be woken up by a 2 a.m. text than wake up to the chilling realization that he wasn't there in the morning.

It was a simple misunderstanding. It was also the first time I realized that he was a full-fledged adult and things wouldn't be the same. Here are a few tips that helped us navigate this new phase of life.

I understand he's becoming more independent

I know my son is much more independent now than when he lived at home. He's doing all the stereotypical college kid tasks like laundry and grocery shopping. He's responsible for registering for classes, buying his books and materials, and handling the logistics of being in school.

With those extra responsibilities, he also gets extra freedom at school. I don't know where he is unless I call or text him, and he chooses to tell me. He makes hundreds of small decisions year-round that I don't even know about.

When he's home with us, he doesn't have a curfew, which has been a weird adjustment for me. But he does let us know if he's planning to go out and if there's a chance he might spend the night at a friend's. I don't think of it as checking up on him. I think of it as all of us being considerate of each other. It helps us to plan for dinner and to know whether to include him in any family activities that day.

We learned to juggle family time and friend time

It can hurt to admit it, but we're not the only people my son wants to see when he comes home. Holidays mean his high school friends are also back in town.

He's part of a tight-knit group, and despite going their separate ways for college, they're still close. I'm glad. I want him to have healthy friendships. But it means we have to work out when he'll be with us as a family and when he'll see his friends.

I let him know if we're planning something where I would like everyone together. Holiday meals are important to us. But we also drive to the mountains the day after Thanksgiving to cut down our Christmas tree, and I love having the whole family there.

He and I both try to be flexible. I don't care which day we cut down a tree, so we can switch if he has plans. He's also willing to rearrange outings with friends. If we talk things out and compromise, no one person's feelings are always ignored.

I want my son to build good relationships with his friends, but I appreciate that he values what's important to us as a family as well. I also want him to look forward to coming home. If we constantly make him feel guilty for spending time with others, this won't be an inviting place.

There can be challenges with younger siblings

I'll admit that it took me a while to realize how self-sufficient my son has become. It was also hard for his younger siblings.

For example, our kids can have a soda on the weekends but not during the week. When my college kid came home and reached for a soda on a Wednesday, his siblings lost their minds.

We explained that they would be allowed to make more independent decisions about what was good for them as they got older. While I didn't ask my older son to stop drinking soda during the week, I did ask if he could be a little less obvious about it.

It can be tricky when you send your kid off to college, only to have him return as more of an adult the next time you see them. But that is the point. My job is to teach my kids to be more independent so that, eventually, they can take care of themselves.

We continue our series covering the first day at America's military colleges and academies with Norwich University in Vermont. The oldest of all of the private US senior military colleges, Norwich University predates Virginia Military Institute and The Citadel and is credited as the birthplace of the military's Reserve Officers' Training Corps, or ROTC. While about half of the university's students matriculate as civilians, the other half enlist in the Corps of Cadets, which follows a strict military training regimen. On day zero, incoming freshmen, known as "rooks" (short for "recruits"), say goodbye to their families before being indoctrinated by upperclassmen, known as cadre, into the lifestyle of a Norwich cadet.