Brian Maule, junior major in geology and geography, spoke with the Northern Star about how important it is to be practical.

Northern Star: Why did you choose the major you did?

Brian Maule: There was a booth for geology at a majors fair before I came to NIU, and I randomly picked geology and I liked the classes that I took, and it went from there.

NS: What is something you are proud of?

BM: Well, I take a lot of credits every semester and I do pretty well.

NS: What are your plans for the next five years?

BM: This summer I am finishing most of my majors, taking a field camp from NIU and also getting an internship. After that, I want to get a full time job somewhere and make money.

NS: What part of NIU have you liked the most since you’ve been here?

BM: I don’t know, it’s different. Sometimes I like the teachers the best and sometimes I like the party aspect.

NS: What is something few people know about you?

BM: People usually don’t know that I wanted to major in music when I came to NIU.

NS: What instrument do you play?

BM: Trombone. I’ve been playing since sixth grade. I don’t play anymore because I ran out of credit hours to keep doing band. I was filling everything up with geology and geography, so I decided that if I couldn’t get the scholarship for doing band then it just wasn’t applicable to my life. I have to get a part-time job, and I can’t spend time practicing every day.

NS: Where is your favorite place to eat and why is it your favorite?

BM: My favorite place to eat is Panda House, and that’s because my friend works there.

NS: What is something you would like to do before you die?

BM: I want to move out West and live there. That would be pretty nice.

NS: Any reason out West?

BM: There is better weather and a lot of good job opportunities. I could go surfing and go to Colorado and climb a mountain.

NS: What advice would you give to fellow students?

BM: As a tutor who has had lots of experience with other students, my biggest advice is to be realistic with your professional goals because college is a big investment. If you don’t have scholarships or grants to pay it off, and if you figure out two or three years down the road that you can’t pass the classes you need to, then you are down a lot of money and that’s on you.