5 Things to Know About College Graduation

Graduation is under a month. Graduate school is looming.

5 things I’ve learned about college graduation:

1. Phones are required and life will be easier if you can use them. Personally, I hate the phone. I hate calling people, I hate people calling me, I hate that it rings and that people can call you at anytime and expect you to answer and talk to them. That said, I’ve learned that they are useful for getting answers and that using them alot will take away that fear of phones right quick.

2. Your parents love you. And they will call at least four times a day. Because they need to know that everything is in place for your next stage in life and that you won’t end up homeless somewhere. So they will remind you to do something and then call you back ten minutes later to confirm that it has been done.

3. You don’t have to be financially independent quite yet. Though that would be ideal. As someone who isn’t returning home after graduation, I thought I had to pay my own way from graduation day on out. The fact is, I just can’t do that yet, so I’ll have to accept the fact that my parents will be helping a bit with the monthly rent (see #2: without their help I’d probably end up homeless somewhere).

4. And as a follow up to #3, you need to know your finances. At the end of your senior year of college, it looks like you’ll be paying off your student loans until the day you die. Doubly so if you need to take out loans for grad school. Plus, you need to pay rent, bills, food, necessities. You will need a budget. If you’re like me, you’ve been living off meal plan for the last four years, and plenty of it. I have to practically give my meal plan away to get it all used up by the end of the semester. I know that next year I’ll need to pay actual money for my food and I’ll need to budget frugally. Since I don’t have a job lined up yet, I don’t have a budget lined up yet, but as soon as I do, I’ll know where everything needs to go. Also, if you know you’re finances, you know what all your funding options are.

and 5. Time carries on. Ignoring the fact that you’re going to graduate in three weeks doesn’t make time move any slower. Unless you’re really lucky, everyone you know will be spreading out over the country. So spend those last few weeks with your friends.