It's nearing that time when students all over the country are graduating and having their commencement ceremonies. It's a time of great excitement for everyone, watching their friends and family graduate from their schools and move on to the next chapter of their lives. However, there's obviously the heavy prospect of leaving behind friends and family to attend a school far away from home or to pursue a faraway profession. Graduation, for me, is right around the corner and it's an event that is both exciting and heartbreaking at the same time. Here are five reasons why graduating provides an excessive scare.

1. You're leaving your friends and family.

That was quite obvious. I assure you that you did not waste a click on this article just to read this exceptionally obvious information, but it had to be said. This is probably the first time that it really dawned on you that you will no longer be seeing all of your friends every day in and out of school. This will also be the first time that your parents are no longer by your side every day, watching over you and providing what I am sure is undoubtedly perfect advice. Each year, as I watched my friends graduate, I lose a bit of myself as I realize I would only get to meet them once or twice a year, if I was lucky. So, basically, the saintly advice here is to meet up with your friends as much as possible and appreciate your family.

2. You have to start over.

Whatever you've built in your past four years of college or high school, it's gone. You're in a new place now, and you've once again got to prove your worth. No one cares if you're the editor of the school newspaper or the President of the Student Council or even just an outcast who's in no clubs at all. Everyone's back at square one. And that scares the crap out of me.

3. You're responsible for yourself more than ever.

No thanks, I prefer living. Ever thrown your clothes on the ground? Ever have a messy room? Ever had stray cups and empty food containers lying around? Mom's not there to clean it up anymore. You've got to take responsibility for your room because if not, your roommate might just kill you. And even as a slightly messy person myself, I don't want my roommate or myself to be living like slobs and I certainly don't want to be killed over a messy room.

4. Your parents aren't annoying you over studying.

We can all admit that our parents have pressured us to study and make high marks in high school, but they're no longer lurking over our shoulders making sure we're studying in college. I definitely want to make sure I still am a studious person, but there's always that possibility I won't.

5. You have to do your own laundry.

Give me a break.