Reminders for the graduating senior

The end of a long spring semester is finally approaching. For some people, it means time to worry about finals and the grades they’ll receive. For others, it means summer is almost here and the frantic search for a summer job will now ensue. And, for graduating seniors, it means life as they know it is about to change.

In an effort to aid graduating seniors, here are some tips and reminders that may help with the transition:

• Obviously, make sure you have a place to go next. Whether it’s living with the ‘rents until a job is secured or moving into a new apartment, triple check all the fine print before you get into the situation. If you’re living with your folks, then discuss the fine print with them — do they expect money for rent or food, and will you be under any of the old curfews and rules that came with “living under their roof”? If you are living in a new apartment, make sure you and your landlord understand the expectations each of you has of the other.
• If you need letters of reference or anything of that nature, make sure you obtain them now while you are fresh in your professor’s mind.
• If you are on your parent’s health insurance, either check and see what sort of health insurance your job supplies or make plans for getting insurance of your own. It’s bad when you get sick or hurt — it’s terrible if you find yourself in this situation without health insurance. On that same note, if you can, it might be a good idea to schedule one last visit to the dentist or doctor while you are still covered by your parent’s plan.
• Get contact information from people now, and know where your graduating friends are headed. It’s a sad but true fact that people lose touch with one another, even though they may care deeply about their friendships. So get those addresses and phone numbers now before everyone gets busy with moving out and moving on. And, secondly, make an effort at least every few months to get in touch, even if it’s only a few short lines over e-mail or a five-minute phone call. It’s the small stuff that keeps the fragile threads of friendship intact over the years.
• Don’t get discouraged on the job search if you haven’t been able to find one yet. Keep looking and putting yourself out there. There’s a job for you — it just may require some patience and a large amount of fortitude to find.
• In the small amount of time that’s left, enjoy every last bit. Go out as much as you can, even if the invitation comes at 11:45 p.m. and you’re sleepy. You won’t regret spending a few more hours with people you may not see for a long time. The lack of sleep is worth it.

While college might be over, it doesn’t mean there are no more fun times ahead. Life is what you make of it, and the best is yet to come.

The above editorial is the consensus opinion of the Daily Kent Stater editorial board, whose members are listed to the left.