Thanks for your tips and advice. I’m starting to become a little more rational about the situation now. I went from being too nonchalant to being too paranoid and I think I'm at a more balanced place now.

What I have been doing when walking home is getting my keys and cell phone out and ready in my hands or pockets. Now I think I'll start holding my keys in my hands the way Tonya & Kim described. I also always carry an umbrella and felt that I could use that to hit someone if I needed to. What I think I will do is buy a heavy duty umbrella with a thicker central pole to carry at night as the one I have now is dinky and compact. I do have a metal whistle on my key ring and it is very loud. I think I prefer something like a whistle to pepper spray. For some reason I'm not all that comfortable with the idea of carrying pepper spray.

Now I just need to work on being more alert, generally I'm very tired from studying when walking home. My friends tell me that I just need to get more studying done during the day and I know they are right! However, I also know that old habits die hard…

Thanks again for sharing your insight. It's helped to calm me down and allowed me to regain focus. I really appreciate it!