As fall approaches, it is time for the inevitable back-to-school shopping. One student in particular that is excited for this time of year is my youngest brother who is starting college in a month. Most people that hear this news react by saying “enjoy this time now” or “college will be the best time of your life.” As a semi-recent graduate, I look back and have to agree. I loved only having class from 10-2 or not scheduling classes on Fridays so that I could enjoy Thursday night festivities. But the cruel “real world” has turned me into a person that heads to bed at 9 or 10 pm and wakes up around 6 or 7 am. If I were to tell current college students this, they’d cringe! Some can’t even fathom the idea of waking up before noon! College was so carefree. There were no mortgage payments to stress over, and terms like life insurance and retirement funds, spouse and kids, always seemed well in the future. Within the few years after graduation, the real world hits like a ton of bricks – so hard that recognizing ourselves is challenging. I’ve recently discovered that not only has our lifestyle changed, but we have also become different people as a result.
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