Our son heads off to college in the fall. He doesn't have to make a commitment to one college until May 1, but he already knows where he wants to go.

He's hoped for almost two years that he'd be going there, since he first set foot on the campus during a college tour.

And as parents, we're trying to help him prepare in the last few ways we can before he heads off to the dorm in the fall.

I thought a visit with a friend's daughter, who is a sophomore at the same school, might help. We met her for lunch yesterday. Jessica absolutely loves it, and cannot imagine leaving at the end of two more short years.

We asked, "What advice do you have about having a great experience here?"

"Get involved," she said simply, and with conviction.

That's always good advice, no matter what life experience you're preparing to have.

Think back on your own life.

Consider a time when you "got involved" in something you really cared about.

- How different was your experience of that time, that group and what you achieved with your time and talents?

- What did you learn in that highly involved state?

- Did that experience help you at some other time in your life?

Now think of a time when you were a more passive participant in what was going on.

Perhaps you went through the motions of the role.

Maybe you didn't really care about what you were doing, who you were working with, or who you were doing the work for.

It's probably a time when you did your part, but never really gave it your "all."

- What are your memories of that experience, that time in your life, and what you learned about yourself and your talents in that role?

Remember the advice.

Find your place.

Make your way.

Make a commitment to something you care a lot about.

Get involved.