In less than three weeks, I will be graduating just like thousands of other Sacramento State students, but I don?t know if I am ready. Are you? Currently the thought of no more school sounds very appealing. No more late nights, no more cramming for tests I should have studied for last week. No more circling the parking lot looking for a spot close enough so my new shoes won?t give me a blister.

In two days, I have turned in 40 pages of double-spaced papers for three classes. Knowing that I will never have to write papers for classes that do not interest me sounds very appealing right now. However, leaving behind my jeans and flip-flops for five days a week of suits and heels also doesn?t appeal to me.

I think I am lost in a world of opportunities. Soon my fellow graduates and I will possess college degrees and our futures will be lying in front of us. Like most people, I have always had a path to follow, but now my path has more opportunities than ever before. I went to high school because the state law mandated it. And since I was there, I figured why not get good grades, so I could go to college? I achieved this goal and applied to Sac State. Now I have been at the University for four years, and in three weeks it will all be over. Graduating seniors, there is no spring break or winter vacation in the so-called real world, unless you plan on becoming a teacher or a CEO. It was so simple: high school led to college and college led to a degree, followed by the “real world.” What exactly is the real world? My 1998 catalog has answered many of my perplexing “what if” questions during my four-year journey. Is there a catalog I can buy with rules and requirements for the so-called real world?

Graduation is the light at the end of the tunnel of numerous dark pathways which students must cross in order to gain the privilege to wear a funny looking cap and gown that does nothing for your figure. Don?t get me wrong, I am thrilled to be graduating. It means that my path was paved correctly and it led me to my ultimate goal. The problem is, there is no problem. Endless opportunities are awaiting us future graduates out in the real world. Mandy Johnson, a graduating senior, said, “Graduation is a huge milestone. But honestly, I am scared sh-tless of graduating. What am I suppose to do next?”

It is comforting to know I am not the only senior who is worried about graduating. On the bright side, the real world pays you to go to work. Think how rich we would all be if we got paid for all of the time we spent studying and writing papers. Also, with no more studying or papers to write, you can learn the prime time television line-up, which was never a key factor in college life.

Obviously, if you?re graduating, you?ve done something right, so take pride in your hard-earned degree. Watch out world, here comes the class of 2002, unless you are a Communication Studies major whose degree will be held for not turning in your portfolio.

Coms majors, turn in your portfolios, then e-mail Crystal Clark at [email protected].

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