Courtesy of Trisha Daab
My son is in grad school and loving what he's studying. But it wasn't an easy road to get here.
He was unsure about undergrad at first, chose a random major, and regretted it come graduation day. Looking back, he wonders if he should've taken a gap year between high school and college to figure out what he really wanted.
We've recently both reflected on his undergraduate years. It's clear he made some mistakes, but he found his way and is on the right path now.
In hindsight, my son wasn't ready for college and didn't know what he wanted to do.
He was coming off four insanely busy and stressful years of high school. He simply didn't have the time to process or even consider his future.
I wish we'd discussed a gap year or delaying college, which would have given him time to figure out the right move for him, instead of following what was expected.
He agrees. He told me he often wishes he hadn't gone into college so quickly.
During May of his senior year, my son struggled. It was time to graduate and figure out what's next.
For most careers, college isn't the place where you learn about what the day-to-day is like, how to get an entry-level role, and what you'll earn.
It wasn't until he was job searching in those last few months of school that my son really learned about entry-level opportunities in his field.
The actual day-to-day work wasn't what he had been learning about in school, and the pay was quite low.
He knew that if he wanted to continue pursuing this career path, he'd need a master's degree, probably a doctorate. He figured he'd need five more years and $60,000 of schooling for something he really wasn't sure he wanted to do.
He shared that he was quickly learning the whole philosophy he had been told in high school and college was wrong: "You can't go to college for four years and get a decent job. For most professions, it's just not true," he told me.
Beyond the choices he made early on in his college career, he also made some mistakes during his first couple of years on campus.
He was a coed cheerleader in high school but didn't want that level of commitment anymore. He was simply too burned out from high school cheer to participate on his college campus. This was another incident where a gap year could've helped.
We both wish he had done an activity in those first years, but he eventually joined cheerleading as a junior. He made new friends and had memorable experiences cheering at games and nationals.
We live in Illinois, and state schools are expensive here. For the 2023-2024 school year, Illinois in-state tuition averaged $18,155.
Therefore, he made a great decision: He enrolled in an excellent community college, which was a more affordable way to explore majors and adapt to having more independence. He saved thousands by exploring what he wanted to study at a cheaper school.
He then attended the UWM in his sophomore year. He lived on campus, and the cost was about $18,000 a year.
Although it was a bumpy road, my son finally found his passion a few years after graduation when he started therapy.
Now he's studying to be a licensed professional counselor and recommends knowing what you want to do before college. He says work in the field, have personal experiences, and talk to people on the job. Enroll when you have figured out what you have a true passion for.
Now that Elon Musk is finally leaving the Trump administration, it's time to forget about Dogecoin (CRYPTO: DOGE). While there was hope earlier in the year that the billionaire tech titan might be able to help push up the price of this meme coin, that simply hasn't happened. For the year, Dogecoin is down a whopping 40%.
But all hope is not lost. There are plenty of other options if you are looking for a low-cost, high-upside cryptocurrency. My favorite pick right now is XRP (CRYPTO: XRP), which is up a modest 6% for the year. Here's why you should consider it for your portfolio.
Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue »
Dogecoin has always been -- and always will be -- a meme coin. Moreover, it was created as an internet joke, so it was never meant to be serious. The only way Dogecoin can increase in value is through hype, buzz, and speculation.
Musk's brief tenure in the White House is proof of that. Even though he had no direct role in any of the White House's crypto policies, the mere fact that he created a government-adjacent group called DOGE -- the same as the ticker symbol for Dogecoin -- created quite a bit of hype and speculation that something big might be coming for Dogecoin. But nothing ever did.
Image source: Getty Images.
In contrast, XRP has real utility. In other words, you can actually use it for something of value. XRP is primarily used as a bridge currency. As such, it can be used to facilitate cross-border transactions, as well as to convert one fiat currency (such as the U.S. dollar) into another fiat currency. All of this runs on the XRP blockchain, and is supported by Ripple Labs, a San Francisco-based tech company that has been around since 2012.
XRP's blockchain technology has already been embraced by large financial institutions as a way to move money around the world in a way that is cheaper and faster than with traditional financial tools. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has even suggested that the XRP payment network might eventually become even bigger than SWIFT, as it is adopted by more and more global institutions.
During the previous crypto bull market rally, Dogecoin soared in value seemingly overnight. It was the first-ever meme coin, and investors piled into it, hoping to become crypto millionaires.
But that was four years ago. In May 2021, Elon Musk appeared on NBC's Saturday Night Live at exactly the moment when many people thought Dogecoin was headed to the moon.
Dogecoin never made it to the moon. In fact, it couldn't even reach escape velocity. Dogecoin reached an all-time high of $0.74, and never recovered. Today, it's trading for $0.20. Never once in its history has it ever broken the $1 mark.
In contrast, XRP has already shown its tremendous upside potential. Yes, it was flatlining around the $0.50 mark for much of 2024, but it then suddenly went parabolic after the U.S. presidential election. At one point, it was up as much as 600% after the election.
Granted, XRP has cooled off considerably since then. It's now trading for just $2, and is down nearly 35% from its 52-week high earlier in the year. But it's still one of the only top cryptocurrencies up for the year.
Analysts and investors remain bullish on XRP's long-term prospects. It could easily double in value, to regain its all-time high of $3.84. Some even think XRP might soar in value to $10 or higher.
I get the allure of Dogecoin -- it's cheap and it's fun. But investing in Dogecoin just doesn't make sense, especially when it's down 40% for the year. At a time of maximum global macroeconomic uncertainty, the last thing smart investors want to be holding is a dog-themed meme coin with a funny name.
A better option would be XRP, which is still relatively cheap -- just $2, less than a cup of coffee these days! And, at times, XRP trades much like a meme coin. Just a hint or whisper of something big coming for XRP is often enough to send it higher. But at least XRP has some utility to it, and has much higher upside than Dogecoin over the long haul. If you are choosing between XRP and Dogecoin, this one's a no-brainer.
Before you buy stock in XRP, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and XRP wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $669,517!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $868,615!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 792% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 173% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.
*Stock Advisor returns as of June 2, 2025
Dominic Basulto has positions in XRP. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends XRP. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Courtesy of Melissa Noble
My parents recently celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary. They met while traveling through Spain in 1971 and married six months later.
My mom has always said it hasn't all been rainbows and butterflies. But they've worked through the hard times and persevered with their marriage, even when things have been tough.
Though I'd always secretly been terrified of commitment, I was also lucky enough to have their solid example of what a strong marriage could look like, and I married Sam — the love of my life — in 2015. The lessons I've learned by watching my parents' marriage have made it all the easier to walk in their footsteps, and now Sam and I have been happily married for a decade.
Aside from their shared passion for travel, my parents are opposites in so many ways. My mom loves art and languages, going to the theatre, and watching movies.
My dad, on the other hand, has always enjoyed playing and watching sports, collecting stamps, and doing crosswords. In his 50s, he randomly decided he wanted to run a marathon and ended up doing four. My mom has never run a day in her life.
However, they share a few fundamental values that have always kept them on the same page: a love of learning and acquiring general knowledge, a belief in seizing the day and making the most out of each moment, the importance of keeping the flame alive, and the belief that family always comes first, no matter what.
My husband and I are also polar opposites in many ways, but like my parents, our core values are aligned.
While I was growing up, my folks often had heated arguments. Sometimes, there would even be periods where they weren't speaking together because they needed to cool off.
However, my parents always resolved the issue with respect and open communication. Through watching them, I learned that conflict in a long-term relationship is unavoidable and normal. There are bound to be differences in opinion, values, needs, and wants, but it's how you handle and resolve the conflict that matters.
My parents have always made a habit of giving each other space — space to pursue hobbies they enjoy, space to travel independently, and time alone to recharge when needed.
My mom is hugely independent. During my childhood, she worked hard, saved up, and took my sisters and me on international trips while my dad stayed home and continued working. She's always said that it's important to be your own person and to follow your dreams.
My husband and I are similar in that we both have our own interests and give each other space in our relationship. We take turns going on solo international kid-free holidays, then come back recharged and ready for family life. Having downtime from each other helps us to keep the spark alive and to appreciate what we do have even more.
No marriage is perfect. Most of us derail at some point in our relationships, but if you truly love each other, you can usually get it back on track.
I know there have been times when my parents' marriage has been on the rocks. There have been enormous life challenges to navigate, and both of my parents would admit they've made mistakes.
But ultimately, they love each other deeply. This all-consuming, enduring love has helped them tackle every hurdle together and emerge stronger.
Of all the lessons they've taught me about relationships, this was the most important: Love is worth fighting for. Always.
The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) teamed up with DOGE to fire 10,000 employees while relying on "hopelessly error-ridden" personnel records, a class-action complaint filed yesterday alleged. The lawsuit said the HHS terminated thousands of workers on April 1, shortly after sharing the flawed personnel records with the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), and Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
"These agencies knew that the records were hopelessly error-ridden, and that the records should have been used, if at all, with great caution," said the lawsuit filed in US District Court for the District of Columbia. "Instead of taking steps to verify the contents of the records and correct the systemic inaccuracies, the agencies promptly used them to fire 10,000 employees."
The case was filed by a law firm founded by former Justice Department attorneys on behalf of seven named plaintiffs and all others who were laid off as part of the April 1 Reduction in Force (RIF). It alleges that the government violated the Privacy Act, which requires agencies to verify the accuracy of information used as the basis for adverse actions against employees.
© Getty Images | Feature China
A generally worried investor base and promising developments with a rival cryptocurrency segment put the kibosh on Dogecoin's (CRYPTO: DOGE) value on Thursday. The foundational meme coin stumbled late that afternoon, declining nearly 14% in value as of 4 p.m. ET. By contrast, the equity market wasn't suffering nearly as much, with the S&P 500 index closing the day 0.5% lower.
The trade war between the U.S. and its major trading partners ground on Thursday, with no end immediately in sight. The conflict hasn't been beneficial to speculative assets like cryptocurrencies generally. Dogecoin -- not nearly as useful a coin or blockchain as a growing number of altcoins -- is highly speculative even among other cryptos.
Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Learn More »
Image source: Getty Images.
Thursday afternoon it was reported that imports of foreign-manufactured goods plummeted month-to-month in April, showing that the dispute is having a tangible effect on the structure of the domestic and global economies. Investors tend to like steady and predictable developments in both, not dramatic swings.
Compounding problems for Dogecoin and other meme coins, the crypto world seems to be more focused on (and enthusiastic about) stablecoins. On Thursday, it was reported that Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego said as many as 16 members of his Democrat party in the chamber could vote to approve the stablecoin bill currently being deliberated by that body.
If passed, the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins (GENIUS) would set a pack of rules and regulations governing such cryptocurrencies.
Although I think Dogecoin has a decent shot at a brief rebound given that it's an enduringly popular meme coin, for me it's too unpredictably volatile as an investment to put money into. I don't think the trade war's going to end soon, either, and it feels like the crypto spotlight will continue to shine on stablecoins for a bit. I'd leave Dogecoin alone for now.
Before you buy stock in Dogecoin, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Dogecoin wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $668,538!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $869,841!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 789% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 172% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.
*Stock Advisor returns as of June 2, 2025
Eric Volkman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Login