Elementary school is all about preparing you for middle school. Middle school is preparing you for high school. High school is preparing you for college. And at last, what is college preparing you for?

All my life I've learned how to take tests and figure out the best ways to study; however, I never knew how to be in the "real world". The real world doesn't have tests or flash cards, it has responsibilities:

It's time for breakfast. You can't eat what you want because your mom always said, "a moment on the lips, is a lifetime on the hips." You go for the healthy but bland oatmeal you make in the microwave. You take your homemade lunch with you and you're out the door. Don't forget to lock it.

You drive about 30 minutes to work and arrive at 8am. You check your email, and forget to pay your credit card bills, therefore an additional charge happened. You take a moment to check your account balance and it's just enough to get by. You struggle to pay the bills, but you need to get back to work.

Lunch time comes, and you eat the soggy salad you prepared. You talk to some coworkers about nothing you'll remember a week from now. Back to work, and then at 5pm, you are let go to drive back home, only to repeat it the next day.

Even with these challenges or routinely tasks, I am ready for it, and I sorta kinda want it. Finally, I have gotten my first "real" job. I've learned that if you mess up, you don't get a bad letter grade, you let your boss down. If you decide to sleep in, you aren't tardy for class, you're late for work. All of a sudden, responsibilities hit you ten times harder. Your organization needs to be neater, your shirts less wrinkled, and hair more straight. There's less leisure time in life, you know, the times you get to snuggle in bed. Less Netflix, more sleep to be productive the next day. Those 9am's become the 7am wakeup call to your alarm. Don't hit snooze, or else you'll be late. Perfection seems like expectation.

But even with these challenges or routinely tasks, I am ready for it, and I want it. I want to jump into adult life - even though it may seem scary. I want to be the best I can be. Who has heard of a college student wanting to graduate? There is few to none. But I like to work hard and earn what I get. Taking the road less travelled might bring you happiness and success. Even though "adulting is hard", I am ready to take on all the obstacles that life brings me. I am ready for the ups and downs - the hardship and prosperity. I am ready.