Leaving the Fake World: Call me crazy but I don't really miss college.

I don't have a dishwasher. 

But I refuse to ever buy paper plates/cups and plastic ware as long as I live in my circa 1937 apartment. If I cave in, I'll feel as though the non existent dishwasher has defeated me. Therefore I carry on, in my little 1937 apartment using GLASS cups, GLASS plates and silverware. I use this analogy, because I think it relates to the common,"I miss college" mantra. Quit it! Don't give in. Every time you post that as your About Me on Facebook, every time you tweet those three words, everytime you utter them through text or, god forbid, OUT LOUD,  you are losing to the idea of college. The real world is inevitable—embrace it! And not only embrace it, be excited. Just as college was predicted to be the "best four years of your life," the next, say, 30+ years are going to be even better. We need to discontinue our narrow-mindedness and face the facts: College is over, just like it will be for all those little munchkins embarking on their days of jello shots in satin togas. The real world is going to be WONDERFUL. And hell, if you really wanna wear a toga and shoot J-E-L-L-O!, then do it. Jiggly foods and costumes are ageless.

To be completely honest, I don't even miss college. Here's my story: 

I did graduate in the expected four years. Once I graduated I took a little vacation time—went to the beach, visited my boyfriend, spent time at home—then hit the job search. Fortunately, after piles of interviews and meetings, and streaming a long network, I landed an entry-level job in a place I am perfectly content. (And should be! It is a poor economy...that is no rumor.) I am paid a reasonable and deserving sum every two weeks, I work from 8:30-6:00, in an office, in front of a laptop. I have an apartment a few miles from my place of work, and YES, I am on my own to pay the rent. Now these are probably elements that are making you go "zzzzzzz" or "that sucks," But I haven't told you the other half of it. 

For all you little munchkins still in undergrad, or those of who poundingg away at your grad school thesis, my day starts and ends the same time, sometimes it ends earlier than 6. And when I leave—that's it! No homework, no tests to study for, nothing. It's completely up to me what I choose to do between the end of my day and the start of the next. SO, I often find myself meeting friends for a drink, or four drinks in a cool bar. And I don't feel guilty because I have a steady income, so I can afford to do this. If I really want, I can go out (hard core, 'college style'), but honestly, the desire is not even there for those who want to do well in the real world. Don't get me wrong, I got kinda drunk last night, but my minor headache hardly distracted me from my easy entry-level position.

And if you choose the right city to work and live in, then you make friends, if not have ones right there with you from college.  I have a good group of friends in my city, so I rarely find myself boo-hooing, " I wish I were with my sorority sisters!!!" Of course I miss the ones that have moved to other places, but they are my excuses for fun trips that we can enjoy, again, because we can afford it.

And don't think I can't enjoy my weekends. Hello! Work is not slavery. My job DOES let me go at about 5 on Fridays and then I can join my college-goers (if I care to do so) and take part in any and every activity I want. I can get hammered!!!! I could attend a frat band party, but trust me—I'm way over that. In fact, I want to say most people get over that anyway BEFORE they even  leave college. So, I can still hit up all the bars in my college town, explore new ones I've found in my real world city, and OF COURSE enjoy the football games. You have to remember, those things are played on Saturdays, so we work people can go, too, and wouldn't exist without its working fan base. And come Sunday, I have nothing more to do than have the day to myself. For the first time in my life, I have really accepted the fact that people should enjoy Sundays. Of course I couldn't when I was in college. I was dreading my week...studying for a test... going to a group meeting...catching up on overdue homework. Man, that sucks. Now I can go to the fucking zoo all day if I so choose to.

I won't lie. When college ended for me, I was sad. Change is sad. But change is soooo great, and if you have the right attitude, you will realize that the real world is better. Better than the fake world? (I guess that's what we should call it.) Weigh the pros and cons. Seriously. 

If you open up to the real world, you meet some really cool people. there is a whole other cast of characters outside the college soap opera. Really interesting people, like your boss and your co-workers. Embrace them and just wait 'til you find yourself laughing over margheritas in the middle of a Friday afternoon, just b/c your boss thought the office needed a break. (True story... happened to us last Friday.) Oh the benefits of working.... who knew they went beyond dental and medical care? 

And the meeting more cool, interesting people goes on. It's strange how you try soooo hard to land a job, and when you do, all of a sudden all these other professionals are interested in you and want to give you their card. WTF?! Guess that 'play hard to get' idea still applies. But its cool, the networking continues even after you find a job and who knows what other doors these business card givers might have for you down the road. Once you are in the real world, you are set...

And plus, I think the people who are in mourning over the loss of their college days probably did not live their days out the way they should have, or else they wouldn't be so sad. I feel like I lived it up in every way in college, so I can only look back and tell myself not to cry because it's over, but to be happy because it happened.