Written by John Preer, Editor-in-Chief

My fellow seniors, fall semester is nothing new.  However, this particular fall semester will (hopefully) be your last of undergrad.  There will be many pitfalls this close to the finish line, but don’t worry.  Your years of Starbucks fueled all-nighters and late night Odum study sessions have prepared you for this final test of will.

The most infamous obstacle in your path is senioritis.  Senioritis is a serious condition that affects thousands of college seniors across the country every year. The most common side effects of senioritis are sluggishness, loss and/ or gain in appetite, struggle syndrome, and an overall apathy for life.  If you or a loved one is suffering from senioritis please consult your appointed advisor for help with this debilitating condition.

As seniors, we should be well aware that the real world is fast-approaching and nothing is more daunting than being thrown into the fray.  However, there are things you can do to ease your transition into the working world.  Find an internship.  The experience that you can gain from a summer internship is invaluable.  A good internship will give you the real world feel with the luxury of a safety net.  Enjoy that safety net, cherish it, appreciate it for all its worth because once you graduate and get a job in your field the second chances become sparse.

Another good tip for transitioning into the working world is to network You aren’t the only one with a degree and a well-stocked contact list could be the difference between a comfy desk job and crippling unemployment.

A final piece of advice: stay diligent.  It will be very easy to become complacent and miss certain deadlines.  Don’t forget to apply for graduation and get sized for your cap and gown. Celebrate, you’re about to graduate!