Graduation is right around the corner and you’re feeling a mix of emotions: happiness, excitement, pride, nervousness, restlessness. You think to yourself, “Is this it? Am I really graduating from college?  Finally?” It feels like it was just yesterday when you were complaining that graduation couldn’t come quick enough and now that it’s here, you don’t know what to do with yourself.

Obviously you’re eager to graduate, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t experiencing a little anxiety – “Am I ready for the real ‘adult world?,’” floats around in your head.

Plus, seeing articles that constantly mention that a lot of former college students aren’t finding decent jobs in their desired field after graduation doesn’t help to diminish your concerns either. According to an article posted by the Washington Post, data gathered by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York revealed that only 27 percent of college graduates had a job closely related to their major in 2010 (that’s reassuring … NOT).

While waiting idly for the big day to come, I’ve had the chance to reflect on my own life and the decisions that I have made up until now. Only time will tell whether I made the right or wrong choices, such as the major I decided to pursue or the friends I drifted apart from. However, there’s no point in having regrets because what’s done is done.

Here are how some of the Florida Atlantic students feel about their graduation date slowly approaching and their futures of job hunting and bill paying:

Graduation is a real eye opening experience. It is the time to apply everything you have been taught and/or trained to do from first grade. As I get closer to graduation, I begin to be filled with so many different emotions. My biggest fear is to fail. I just wished throughout my college career they would have taught us more preparation for the real world. Career life, family life. A way to be more balanced and people oriented. Something like how we were taught in capstone (breaking the ice and communicating while building relationships with our peers), instead of isolating ourselves.”

– Josie George, communication studies

It’s so crazy to think that after college graduation, starts the real world unlike graduating high school where it’s a new chapter to start over with new people and party. My biggest fears are graduating and not getting a job and starting my career for the rest of my life. Having to pick a job and want to stick with it is a stressful decision. Especially if you haven’t had a lot of work experience to know what you like and what you don’t. I wish I would’ve learned more about living like budgeting car payments and rent.”

– Marissa Dilione, hospitality management with a minor in digital marketing

As I near the end of my college career, I think about my hopes and dreams for the future. I hope that I find a job that is truly fulfilling – maybe not all day, everyday – but still fulfilling on a deep level that I enjoy and desire to be fulfilled. I guess that is also one of my biggest fears about graduating, is that I will work my hardest to lead the type of life I wish to, but then I will look around one day and realize it doesn’t even remotely resemble what I had in mind. Looking back that is a lesson I learned in college. That you can have all the plans in the world, but sometimes life has plans of its own … I wish during my college career that I would have learned more life lessons in the classroom. Lastly, more cohesion within the programs and majors would be beneficial. When a student picks a major, learning when you become a junior how to apply for internships and what jobs you qualify for instead of finding out the hard way your last semester of college would be highly beneficial. In the same way a parent raises a child to grow up and take care of themselves, I believe a college does the same in a respect. It’s not about holding a student’s hand throughout receiving their education but guiding until they learn how to guide themselves.”

– Michelle McLain, communication studies

Apparently, many college students share similar concerns when it comes to graduating and entering the “real world.” But growing up isn’t the end of the world. On the bright side, no more homework and exams – unless you plan on going to grad school.

All that hard work is finally going to pay off. Look back at what you have accomplished and experienced in those four years of college – the people you met, the great professors you had (with any luck, you had at least one that you liked), the events you attended, the skills you obtained, all those things made your college experience more worthwhile.

You don’t need to have all of the answers now – you have your whole life ahead of you. So, just take things one step at a time. Focus on graduating and take that needed two-week (or longer) break afterward.

All we can do now is wait for that big day to come and be confident that everything falls into place. Walk across that stage with pride, knowing that you worked hard and you deserve that degree.