CHoices today are more complicated that years past. Before it seemed we were all encouraged to go to college, graduate, and start a family. But now times have changed. THeres no guarantee of a job after college, and who can afford to let their yougnadult linger past 4-5 yrs of college enrollment? So now we have more time it seems and more choices.

Now it seems a wise choice to have our children attend a less expensive community college while getting their basic courses out of the way, to then transfer to a major university once they have decided on a major, after all how many teens know what they want to do for the rest of their lives at the age of 18 anyway?

Or what about the armed services? A dedication of time to our country, being molded and trained in areas no one else could teach us, to then end our service with a nice check (I have friends who recieved upwards of $30,000 after 4 years of service) to begin college or life with. College can't promise us that, although for most of us, college isnt risking our lives either.

And what about those students who choose to start working, maybe night classes, but altimately just working after graduation. Well, like I pointed out to my husband last week, as we heard how a recent college graduate DID NOT get the job Jimmy Johns was hiring for a regional manager of all stores, a Jimmy Johns employee will get that job! Some kid who has worked at Jimmy Johns since high school, has been taking classes at night and who knows the inner workings of the establishment better than any graduate could without hands on experience!

My point is this, we may not all know what we want to do with our future at the age of 18. Its hard, and graduation parties are no help when friends, family, and strangers bombard these wet behind the ears new adults with questions of "Well, whats next?" They don't know! Even those who pretend they know, don't really know! How could they? They've never worked the job they say they are studying to get, they haven't yet attened the school they are attending in the fall. The only thing we as adults can do to guide them into happiness, is to teach them the simple lesson of working hard at whatever they do. Whether it be the service, college, or a job, working hard and it giving it your all is only going to return to you good results. And if you work hard and relaize its not what you thought it was, move on. At least you'll have that reccomendation or grade to show your a dedicated person at whatever you do.

I've over heard too many young adults be questioned on their futures, and I have cringed as I hear their rehearsed responses, and felt their sigh of relief when the response was taken and the questions stopped. In todays world, we are living longer than ever expected. Its a long life, and we shouldn't be quick to make a decision that involves at times thousands of dollars worth of education, training, or sacrfice just because society expects us to continue on as we have the past 60 years. Let youself grow, take different classes at college you haven't taken in high school and that aren't the basics, travel for a few months, join clubs, push yourself to see whats out there besides the comfort of the past 12 years of school, only then can you move forward to the next 78- 80 years with no regret knowing you explored, you found something you are truley passionate about and you did it! And parents let the kids do this! Too many people are trapped in jobs they hate and in turn are making the people they deal with in those fileds unhappy as well! Do what you love, but more importantly, take the time to know what it is you love to do.

Let us look at these times as a gift. Theres no rush to graduating college in four years, because theres a strong possibility that there will be limited jobs options anyway. Most if not all of the college graduates I know for the past 5 years have graduated and are now working jobs that are not in their field of study. They are waiting tables, looking to re-enroll in school, or working at some other minimum wage job. Half had to move back in with parents and pretty much none are happy at having rushed to get their degree. Thats not to say students should linger in school, because that will cost a fortune, but todays world has late to early 30 year olds doing what 10 years ago early 20 year olds did. Forty has become the new 30, 50 the new 40, and 60 the new 50. We are livng longer and have seemed to alter our social lives accordingly.

Other advice to those new grads? Don't get a credit card unless you know how to use it and have a job to pay it off monthly. A part time jobs while in school keeps you focused, and helps your parents out- they shouldn't have to pay for your social life. Don't start smoking! It may seem cool, but its not worth it and it smells, really bad.

More friendly words of wisdom: Don't drop a class without talking to your prof first. Don't be absent to class, if your teetering on a c+ or a c-, attendance will get you that c+, and act as ammo when you cry to your prof. Make friends with everyone! This is not high school, there is no "cool" crowd, only thousands of others who are intelligent and you can learn from.

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