graduated. now what?

years of preparation. days of anticipation. hours of excitement and minutes of nerves. then it hits. oh, and it hits hard. graduation...

and now it's over. i had a feeling it might feel this way: one day you are surrounded by the people who experienced this journey beside you, and the next day - after graduation - they are gone. living out their dreams or, quite possibly, discovering them. yes, i have graduated and, yes, i know what i will be doing, but it just doesn't seem real yet. until the day comes when i realize i have no more assignments, finals, or lectures,  i have no doubt i will continue to associate myself as a student. and with good reason! that has been my full-time job for the past 20 years.