It is about that time of year for all college seniors. Across different universities, questions like "What are your plans after graduation?", "Do you have a job lined up yet?", "Which grad school are you going to?", "What do you plan to do with your degree?" are starting to pop up everywhere.

Speaking for myself: I hate being asked these questions because I am embarrassed. I don't know the answer to any of them, and it is scary. People used to tell me, "You're young and you still have time to figure out what you are going to do." I find myself getting worked up all the time because it is already October and graduation is just right around the corner in May. I really don't have much time.

Doesn't it feel like the older generations have banded together just to let you know how terrible life is going to be after college? You hear it from the striped-polo-shirt-and-khaki-wearing alumni who stroll campus during homecoming, telling tales of their collegiate glory days to anyone who'll listen, or from professors who always say that there are no bonus points for participation in the "real world." It seems that everyone wants a chance to let you know how good you have it and that you need to enjoy the college days while they last. They'll tell you just how hard life is going to be as soon as you exchange your cap and gown for a suit and tie.

Most people assume that after completing their post-secondary

education, the next step in life is to go out into the real world and get a job or go on to graduate school. But if you feel like you’re lost and don’t have any idea? This is completely normal. Not only do you have to figure out what you are going to do, but you're starting to feel all the emotions because of your coming graduating and the potential of leaving the place you have called home for at last four years or so.

I am a very emotional person, and I know that during the last drive up the hill with Pullman, I am going to let out waterworks for sure. I also I know I won't be the only one. Pullman became a part of me, and it is who I am. You wouldn't understand the feeling unless you have experienced being a Coug (although I'm sure you get similar feelings at other universities across the nation).

Certainly, one path in life does not fit us all. There tends to be this idea that we come out of school and instantly fall into an amazing career. However, this is hardly the reality. Here are some key points to keep in mind:

• Learning doesn’t end once you leave school;
• Who says you can’t go into paleontology after working for years in advertising? Remember that it is never too late to pursue something new;
• Careers develop over time, not overnight; and
• One path does not fit all.

If you can keep these things in your back pocket, then you will be all right and eventually you will find your passion in life. But no matter where I go in life, you may be able to take me out of Pullman, but you will never be able to take Pullman out of me.