I’m always amazed by how fast a semester can fly by. I can’t believe it’s summertime already. A couple of weeks ago, I went to a very confusing advising appointment and found out that I could graduate next year if I wanted to, and nothing has scared me more. Not even “Scream,” the first one.

As much as I would love to be done with research papers and math formulas and mind-numbing classes that are preparing me for my future, I don’t think I’m ready.

My ex-editor wrote me an e-mail the other day and told me that I was going to yearn for the days of homework and all-nighters when I finally got out of school. And as I sit in front of a computer for the umpteenth hour in a row typing papers that should have been done weeks ago, I can’t help but disagree. At least he’s getting paid to do the things he complains about.

But maybe I’m wrong, maybe there’s some type of postpartum depression that occurs after leaving the semi-carefree life of college. In a few days, some of you won’t be walking uphill every morning, listening to “Silent Night” playing on the bells and telling your friends about the guy who broke a windshield after doing a running swan dive on the hood of Provide-A-Ride. And here’s a good question: Are Thursday’s still the unofficial party night in the real world?

I doubt it and that’s why I don’t know how you soon-to-be graduates are handling this goodbye so well. I think I would miss this college thing too much.

But I guess it’s just a part of getting older. So goodbye to those of you who are moving on. Have fun doing what you do and try to do it well. Climb your mountains and eat your hot dogs. Change the world in whatever way you can, just don’t be mean to columnists.

I picked out an unofficial senior quote from “Even Cowgirls Get the Blues” by Tom Robbins for all you graduates. I found it inspiring, so I’ll share it with you in case you’re lost in this world. Here it goes: “If you take any activity, any art, any discipline, any skill, take it and push it as far as it will go, push it beyond where it has ever been before, push it to the wildest edge of edges, then you force it into the realm of magic.”

So from the mouths of my two favorite condiments, “Ah, push it – push it real good.”

Lindsay’s column ran in Thursday editions of the Herald this semester. You can reach her at [email protected]