I've always thought about growing up and going to school in Toronto, which I've lived relatively close to for the majority of my life, or vacationed to for most of it at least. Toronto has a thriving gay community, Canada is very GLBT friendly compared to many other countries, and Canada is home. I plan to go to post-secondary edu. for over 5 years though (hopefully under a decade however). I can go somewhere for my undergraduate and hope to study and do well and get into some great uni. that makes me feel prestigious... or I can go to UFT, which isn't bad by any means, but thousands and thousands of students go there and it's not quite well known for the field I'd like to enter.

I know I can pull off the grades to go to uni. in Toronto, but I could also go to BC and likely Europe or to the universities a step down from Ivy Leagues (although damn the SAT). I don't think cash will be a problem, even if it were, the selfish part of me still tosses up - do I go to Toronto or somewhere I know would have a club scene and lots of gays, or do I go somewhere purely for education, and maybe spend years without any romantic relationship?

I'd like to say I could come home and visit Toronto to party... but that's just stupid from my vantage point. It would be amazingly cool (and as much as I'd want an ongoing relationship, I'd just love the experience of clubbing and BEING with other guys in more than just friendship/passing) but what would I do? Come home, go to the city, party away, drive home, go back to uni? My folks have money but that's a bit much and I just don't know what to think right now.

Last year of high school anyway. Guidance counselors are helpful to me... but only so much. I'm sure there are hundreds of gay-friendly universities out there, but where will I find someone to fall in love with, or even just another gay guy to be a FRIEND with and not feel wierded out? Should I care about the name of a university? Should I go for a lower grade reputation and enjoy the money saved later, and the people I'd likely meet more of?

In other news, driving is scary when you live uphill and need to do some sharp turns to practice things. At least the road was empty when I swirved, yippee.