5 Questions Every College Senior Asks Themselves

5 Questions Every College Senior Asks Themselves Photo Credit: en.hdyo.org Where has the time gone? Well, the funny thing about time is that it just keeps going. Theres no pause button on life, and whether or not youre ready, as a college senior (who has no plans at the moment to attend grad school), youre moving on to whatever the next chapter in your life will be. I suggest you get with the program, stay present, and make the most of each moment. (Easier said than done, I know). How can I be an adult already? For me, this question is usually accompanied by some expletives, followed by Im not ready and make it stop! Being an adult is scary, as is leaving the world of academics (for now, at least) when its all many of us have known for the last 15+ years. But part of being an adult is facing your fears not necessarily conquering them, but at least coming face-to-face with them and marching on. As graduating college seniors, we are now real adults who are about to head off into the real world, hopefully smarter than we were at our high school graduations. Why do I have to go into the real world? I recently told my mom while venting to her about some of the above questions that being responsible is no fun. Unfortunately, being a graduating college senior means its time to enter the real world, get a job, and start being a contributing member of society. (Ugh). And when youve got bills and loans to pay, youre not really in a place to be frivolous and not worry about money, but instead need to enter the real world as quickly and seamlessly as possible to start earning an income. But worrying about money is super tiresome, boring, and stressful, and ultimately wont do anything to help. And because Im not exactly rolling in the Benjamins and neither are most of my fellow college seniors we cant really afford not to enter the real world. So the short answer is that we have to enter the real world because thats where the money is, and strangely, Ive gotten quite attached to my habit of being able to buy food to eat when Im hungry. Photo Credit: agirlsessence.com What if everything Ive done until now has all been a huge mistake? This is one of my favorites to ask myself because it leads to my going back over every decision Ive ever made and wondering if I shouldve done things differently its great fun. But ultimately, whether or not everything weve done until now has been a huge mistake, we are where we are and we cant go back and have a do over. Marty McFly, were not. Hopefully, once the neurosis has stopped, youll look back proudly and nostalgically on the path that took you to where you are now, rather than looking back regretfully. But if you do have regrets and wish youd done things differently, use that as the fuel to propel you to where you want to go in the future and try not to make those same mistakes twice. YOLO people; and I say that un-ironically. What am I doing with my life? This is the big one and this is the one most college seniors ask themselves, promptly followed by an in-depth and lengthy freakout during which we question every single thing weve ever done until now. (Im not alone in this, right? Right?) I always thought that graduating college meant Id have all the answers, and my life would be going exactly how I thought it would. (Im sure Gods laughing so hard right now). But just because were leaving school doesnt mean we have to have our lives completely planned out. Whether youre going to be starting the job youve always dreamed of or are still filling out applications and keeping your fingers crossed, at least you are doing something with your life (or trying anyway). And by the time you retire, you probably will have done many things in your life and yet, still be asking yourself this very question. In fact, I hope I never fully answer this question for myself, because I think as long as we keep asking ourselves this, well continue trying new things, exploring new opportunities, and seizing every moment. So stay hungry, my fellow college seniors and I mean that metaphorically.