Oh, what a feeling; or is that: UH-OH, what a feeling - Ultimate Survive Guide

Careers and Colleges, March-April, 2003

I remember it like it was yesterday. Sitting. Waiting. Big smile on my face. This was the moment that I, and 416 of my friends, had waited for. The last minute of the last day of high school. The bell rang, lockers slammed, a cheer went up and we charged down the steps anxious to get to our future.

By the next day, it seemed, anxiousness had turned into anxiety. Had picked the right college? What would happen if I hated it? What if I didn't make any friends? What if my scholarships and grants didn't come through?

As it turned out, I changed colleges, changed majors, changed career goals. But, many of the things I did in senior year prepared me for college life. I had learned to cook, learned to do laundry, learned how to type, even learned what study methods worked best for me. More important, as someone who had always been a little shy, I learned to let my natural sense of humor take over and that made it easier to meet new people. These were things that not only helped get me through college, but they continually help me as I go through life today.

If you're about to graduate, your life is about to change drastically. In researching this issue's article on campus life, I found that many teens were not ready to deal with life on their own. The first semester especially is a big adjustment. Students struggle with not having someone to wake them up for class and nag them about homework. Having to do EVERYTHING for themselves is a huge chore.

So, we've put together this issue of CAREERS & COLLEGES to help you prepare for this impending transition. We address many topics that may pop up in the first months at college, from academic challenges to financial problems. Plus, we give you a lot of practical advice on the everyday stuff-and that you can use whether you're going to college or not.

But, no matter what, when that bell rings on that last day of high school, slam your locker, cheer, and run down the steps. A whole new life is waiting for you to embrace it. Don't let anxiety about the future ruin you enjoyment of the present. That's something else I learned in high school.

Paul McKeefry

Publisher

CAREERS & COLLEGES