Since my last blog, I have really been focused on getting things lined up for college (remember, I made my decision to play football at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo.).

Feb. 2 was National Signing Day for football. I signed my letter of intent on that day. It was a great day, and there were many people that made it wonderful. I got to sign in the auditorium at my high school in front of the student body along with a team mate of mine. There was a big table set up with a Southwest Baptist University helmet, jersey and balloons on it. My family was able to be there with me to celebrate. There were radio and TV stations taking pictures, interviewing and broadcasting. Everything looked really nice, and it made me really happy!

Since then, I’ve been working on completing the FAFSA application. You can fill it out online -- but you have to make sure you fill out the one that is free. It’s the one at FAFSA.gov.

It took a little while to complete, but that’s all right because now I can actually receive my scholarship money. Even though I have signed my athletic scholarship, I must complete and submit my FAFSA to actually receive the scholarship.

Because I wasn’t sure where I was going, I applied to a lot of colleges. I am still receiving letters from different colleges telling me how much money I am receiving for academics, so now I’m calling and telling them I will not be attending their school (something you should do too, if you’ve been offered multiple scholarships to attend various colleges and have already made the decision of where you will attend).

It feels really good to finally know where I’m going to college next fall. Now I am filling out the application to live on campus in a dorm. At SBU, I have to send $150 for a deposit with the application.

All these steps -- signing my letter of intent to play at SBU, finishing applying for the FAFSA and filling out an application for my future dorm room -- have prepared me even more for college as the end of my senior year fast approaches.