College is officially over. Elders dance came and went. It was held in your honor. The Vice Chancellors dinner too was held for you and other finalists. When projects were being presented, you also made a presentation.

Part of the clearance process involved leaving your college ID at the Dean of Students office and your library cards with the Librarian. Here, they will be shredded to bits.

Many comrades are looking up to you. Firstly, to see the grades youll graduate with. Also, the job you are likely to get. Your family wants to see what you did with your time. Your classmates are competing for the few jobs out there. You think this is challenging. But wait, theres more.

I reiterate my comments in an earlier edition. Financial help from parents and siblings tends to zero exponentially. Apparently, expenses increase likewise. Mildly put, getting your bearings right proves elusive. We therefore seek to identify various survival tactics as you realize your place in this world. The enduring fact that this may take longer than expected cannot be gainsaid.

Firstly, dont compare yourself with others. I know youve read in Desiderata that therell always be greater and lesser persons than yourself. I say chances are those guys you are comparing yourself with are more messed up than you are. Its the sort of mentality you get when you have a toothache. You imagine everyone else is having a good time. Next, at a time when most dudes are doing things computer, here are worthwhile pointers. When the going gets tough, upgrade. Sticking to the same old way of doing things brings the same results which eventually gets damn boring. However, remember that the guy who has the last laugh probably made a backup.

If you still feel lost and unable to focus, consider this as a discovery of new destinations and frontiers. Sort of figuring out yet another way it doesnt work. Before you get that job, consider yourself voluntarily leisured but not unemployed. Whenever you fail, simply smile and tell yourself you achieved a deficiency. Be sure to correct things though. Youre bila credo so simply text away. Unless there are free calls. Pray and hope that somebody gets the number wrong and sambazas you credit. Meanwhile, look ahead and get something done. Many people mess up by only considering what was done or said. Seasoned detectives look for evidence in whatever didnt happen. Remember the dog that never barked? If not, read Sherlock Holmes stories. It is bad enough regretting what you did, worse regretting what you didnt do.

Looking at what some people have accomplished, it is worth noting that it all seemed like the unpopular thing to do when they started. They however started and kept going. They ran their own race and sang their own song. The world is full of information. What you got to do is try and absorb only that which is useful. Since you may get bored before you settle down, get something to keep you busy. Something interesting. Get to know many things. For instance, what do you do when you see an endangered animal eating an endangered plant? Isnt this a Catch 22 situation? Better still, if you plan to fail but succeed, which have you done? Try to figure out whether a fly without wings would be called a walk. Got that one? Somebody tell me, is there another word for synonym?

Consider the friends you have and how they affect your life. Hanging out with the right people makes you a better person and this is vital in the learning process. Consider the following: You are driving home one rainy evening. At a bus stop, you see this dude who saved your life the other day. Also, there is an old lady standing in the rain and a very gorgeous girl next to her. Your car, a Volkswagen Beetle has space for only one person. What do you do? Who do you offer a lift?

There are many answers to the above. The one that wins is that you should give your friend the car. He will go with the senior citizen. You will then wait for the next bus with this beauty. Needless to say, youll introduce yourself Im not sure I totally agree, but what do you think?

Last but not least, keep your ear on the ground and your eyes open. Sometimes, opportunity comes to you dressed in overalls. If you hate work, you are obviously done. Everything has a starting point, a growth path and a shelf life. The latter are dependent on that starting point. Identify your (0,0) co-ordinates and set things in motion. Only this will define your progress.

Just a thought, if someone with multiple personalities threatens to kill himself, is it considered a hostage situation?