2) Don't be terrified of being strictly concerned with function or strictly concerned with form. You should fear being at either extreme equally, and around here I think people fear the latter a bit more than the former. It's getting better, though.
3) I'm finding great satisfaction at having time to work on my own projects, as well as time to sit and contemplate the universe.
I'm about 4 chapters through the book I'm writing and it makes me happy. I think we as a school sometimes forget our other passions. While it's necessary and optimal that school be demanding and make you sweat for the knowledge, you can't live in a basement and get your assignments through the door. No matter what you major in you should be a person of the world in some manner, shouldn't you?
I've heard complaints in the past of not being able to get inspiration...hitting a rut is horrible and that most definitely happens to everyone, but I never thought it was a matter of inspiration. It's a matter of energy, of interest. If you aren't interested in a kind of content, how do you expect to design for that information? Understanding takes some bit of interest, and if you don't read you sure as hell won't be able to design a good book, and if you don't know how to cook you sure won't make nice utensils unless it is an accident.
