By MELISSA JOHNSON
April 18, 2006

I would like to offer my congrats to all my fellow seniors. I know that we are all facing the horror of the end of the semester. For many of us that means not only finals and papers due, but some sort of senior comprehensives. Stress levels are rising and our desire to do less is also on the rise. However, I would like to say . . . go out with a bang!

Many of us are excited to be graduating, but we are also worried about what is next. For those students who are traditional and haven’t necessarily worked in the real world, hold on tight it is a bumpy ride. For those students that are going on to a graduate program, congratulations again for putting this off for a bit longer.

However, for those students applying for graduate programs life has been miserable. For those of you that haven’t been through this process let me just tell you about it briefly.

First you have to find your schools that offer the programs of choice. A lot of times advisors and schools seek you to help you with the process, but a lot of times you have to do a self-application. Next you have to make sure you meet your application deadline. A lot of these applications include essays without topics. Some of them give you specific topics (which, in my opinion, are much easier, since they give you a place from which to start).

After this application is sent in, you have to make sure all of your transcripts get to the appropriate people. Then you have to take a graduate or professional test such as the GRE, MCAT, MAT, VCAT, or whatever exam is expected of you for your particular discipline. These tests are usually a nightmare and the students who have taken them have joined the many who have been stressed beyond belief only to be completely tortured during the test.

So you’ve submitted your application, taken the entrance exam of their choice, made sure all your records have gotten to the appropriate places, and think it is time to wait for the news. Oh wait, I forgot to mention all the money you have spent to submit the applications, take the entrance exam, and, if you attended other institutions, paid the money to have your transcripts sent.

Now start the emails or phone calls from the admissions people to tell you part of your application didn’t get there or your transcripts weren’t received in time. My favorite is when the schools don’t bother to tell you that and just sent you a thank you, but no letter. This letter says you were not considered amongst the many applicants because something didn’t arrive on time. Has anyone else gotten this letter? Did you smile ironically as I did when you read it?

Okay, enough of that subject. Back to the future.

We have worked very hard for at least four years to earn the piece of paper (rather large piece, too) that says we are smarter, more sophisticated, and well-rounded than we were when we started. We are all older, that is certain, but less certain is whether we are all smarter. I personally feel like I am oozing information out of my head because there isn’t enough room left to hold it. While this feeling does not necessarily make me feel smarter, the teachers and counselors have assured me I would be, so I am holding out hope for that.

As an older student who experienced the “real world” for a couple years before coming back to school, let me tell you that a lot of the well-roundedness from school (and I don’t mean whatever “life lessons” you may have picked up at the parties) will definitely help you to communicate with the individuals with whom you work. I heard that all the time before I came back to school and thought it was a bunch of hooey. But what do you know? Those professors were on to something.

However, I must say (and hopefully my professors don’t read this and lower my grade), a lot of college does not specifically prepare you for the “real world.” Rather, it simply delays your entry into it. For some individuals whose maturity level rivals that of my German Shepherd, putting off the “real world” for four to five years is a great idea. Indeed, as someone who lives in that world, we thank you.

Enough of my soapbox. Let me get back to my point.

Seniors! Go out into the world and be exuberant about everything you do. Remember life is not handed to us on a platter. We must work hard to climb the ladder, much as our parents did.

Also, remember while climbing the ladder, where you went to college and built your foundation for the future. Don’t step on anyone to get where you want to be. Be kind, caring and compassionate all the time. Smile at everyone even when you want to spit on them. When someone is ugly to you, be even nicer. Doing so gets to the mean people much more effectively than slashing their tires (not that I know this from personal experience).

Good luck in all your endeavors. And keep in touch with your friends from Belmont Abbey and come back and show your support.