With the quarter wrapping up, the end is in sight but my anxiety about getting a job and being out in the 'real world' is through the roof. As an international student, I've got the added stress of figuring out how to stay in the US legally, and therefore have another layer of paperwork to work through. The comfort of my college is life is coming to an end, and it's starting to dawn on me that I won't get the same freedoms and benefits as I do now. Here are the 12 things I'm going to miss after I graduate.

1. Being able to make my own schedule

Especially given how much flexibility I was offered, making my own schedule on my terms is a luxury I'm going to have to give up soon.

2. Not having any responsibility on Fridays

With three-day weekends for most majors at DePaul, I've grown accustomed to going out on Thursday nights and getting the Friday feeling a day early.

3. Summer vacations

Having a set time for vacations, guaranteed, is a perk of college we take for granted because we won’t get summer vacations from work.

4. Dressing down if I didn’t feel like getting dressed up

Some days are a hit and a miss when it comes to feeling like dressing up, so having the alternative option of wearing sweatpants was great anytime I was running late.

5. Skipping a day of class just because you want to

Or if you’re sick — this may not work as an excuse in the ‘real world’ as often as you've used it in college.

6. Napping throughout the day

There’s nothing better than a nap between classes to get yourself back on track for the rest of the day.

7. House parties

Although house parties weren’t my favorite part of college, I will miss the occasional party at someone's house.

8. Studying abroad

This becomes ‘traveling’ in the ‘real world’ and becomes infinitely more expensive. A lack of vacation time and makes it trickier to travel as frequently.

9. Living near your friends

Since most college students try to live near campus to avoid long commutes to class, being near them is something you forget to appreciate until college ends. Some of your friends may even move to another city, state or county, so seeing them will become an even greater challenge.

10. Being able to say ‘I don’t know what I want to do yet’

In college, you feel like you’ve got all the time in the world to figure out what you want to do, but once in the real world you actually have to figure it out and do it! Although I have an idea of what I want to do, there are so many possibilities I can't even begin to narrow it down yet.

11. Student discounts

On movie tickets, store purchases, and some museum admissions, student discounts are a cornerstone of the college experience.

12. Sleeping in

Let’s face it, this is the best part of the end of the week because the majority of your responsibilities are taken care of. But this is soon going to change and my weekends are going to be packed with plans and errands I won’t be able to get to during the week.

This list reads like a rambling of things I'm going to miss about seemingly having things 'handed' to me and having it easy up until now. Yet, I'm more than excited to start the next chapter of my life. I know working will be hard. I know managing my friendships will become harder and looking after my dog won't be any easier. I'm ready. I'm ready to tackle 'real life' head on and see where things take me.