Oh, Loyola. I can’t believe that I am graduating in two weeks. It’s such a grown-up thing to do. It seems just like yesterday that I walked through the Palm Court on a campus visit and decided that this was where I wanted to go to college.

That’s where our love affair began, Loyola, but now you’re casting me out into the real world on my own. How could you?

Now I have to pay bills, get my own health insurance, start doing my own taxes, show up for jury duty and most importantly … I have to get a job.

I know that getting a job was the whole point of you coming into my life, and I feel like you’ve prepared and trained me in all the ways you could, because you know, that’s why my parents pay you. But being an adult with a job is something I always thought was way into the future.

Graduation is really the first step into life as a responsible adult. Responsible? Adult? Me? No, thanks. I can barely remember to put deodorant on in the morning (don’t worry, I do).

These are the last few days I have to really enjoy college life. But upon trying to live it up by sleeping in and wearing sweatpants to class for the first time in four years, I now realize what I have missed out on.

I think I’ve been to only one fraternity party. I never joined a sorority. Never once have I worked as a barista at PJ’s. I’ve never seen a sporting event at Loyola. I’ve never dated anyone who went to Loyola. I own one Loyola t-shirt. I moved off campus as soon as possible. I’ve only studied in the library like three times. I never even got a fleur-de-lis tattoo.

Seriously, I’m not trying to turn this into a Nicole pity party, but I just wanted to spell out a few things for those of you who are lucky enough to not be graduating and who still have a few semesters to really live the life of a college student if you haven’t already.

You have time. Spend it wisely. You’re only in college once.

I am not saying that my life completely sucked in college. The Maroon has shown me a good time. Don’t get me wrong – I’ve gotten great experience working and doing internships, but I just wish that I wasn’t so eager to grow up a few years ago because, now that I’m being forced to grow up, I am not so sure I want to. Oh, well.

Two weeks from now, I’ll get my diploma and know that I worked hard for it. I’ll have a great job as an advice columnist for one of Elle Magazine’s Web sites, and maybe one day, I’ll run Elle myself. I think I’m going to get a puppy, too. It’s been great, Loyola, but I think after four years together it’s time to say, “Good night, and good luck.”