I spent the previous week studying for finals and writing papers with limited sleep, but when I handed in my last assignment, I felt a mixture of relief and resignation. 

“Thank you,” the department secretary said, “You’re all set.” 
“That’s it?” I asked.
“That’s it!” She replied cheerfully.

A few minutes later I met my circle of friends, who all shared similar stories of… the end.  We had labored so much over the last four years that for it to end this abruptly seemed anti-climactic.  We also had a peculiar mix of emotions about what was to come: excitement, trepidation and frustration.  Many of us did not have jobs yet and we were moving to different cities.  On that day, my friends and I sat under a tree and mourned the end of our collective college experience –before we could move on...