Dear Dee,

Decisions, decisions.... Believe me, I can relate to your students. I have considered carrying around my personal Magic 8-Ball to make those crucial choices for me:  Live in the city or country? Take a vacation or save money? Pepperoni or vegetarian? Life is full of choices.

Back when I was younger and every decision seemed to have overwhelming consequences, my mother taught me a trick: When faced with two options that seem equally attractive, make a list that compares them. It's a great way to sort out your thoughts and think about every detail.

Choices Planner's Compare Careers feature works on a similar principle. Students can see the key elements of two careers side-by-side for easy comparison. Wondering which career pays better or has the better job outlook? Compare careers and find out. You can even see the different aptitudes and personality types associated with each career. It's the perfect way for students to navigate their own decisions. The more knowledge they have, the less they'll have to rely on things like coin flipping or asking someone else to choose.

Here is one announcement that was an easy decision for me: I want to wish you all a happy and safe new year. See you in 2010!