Graduation is looming ahead like a mountain, and the future is on the other side.

Prospective graduates everywhere are making plans for the rest of their lives, which is no small task. Some are searching for jobs and some still have yet to decide what they want to be when they “grow up.”

What many graduates have yet to realize is that, at this point in their lives, the whole world is open to them. Their options are unlimited, it just takes a little creative thinking and bravery to realize it.

The current students preparing to venture into the “real world” should take advantage of every opportunity to explore the real world while they can. This could mean traveling the state, the country or abroad. It could mean spending time with new people, trying new things, maybe even living somewhere unexpected for a little while.

True, this means the future might not be so certain. But if there’s one thing everyone can be sure of it’s that the future is always uncertain.

While consistency and organization are comforting, spontaneity and surprise lead to excitement and fulfillment.

The future doesn’t have to consist entirely of a career and education doesn’t end after classes are complete.

Some of the greatest learning experiences occur outside the classroom, and the perfect opportunity to take advantage of this is to experience as much as possible. Former students suddenly free of the burden of homework and classes have a chance to make something with their time.

Responsibility still has to be a factor. Playing video games for weeks on end or watching endless Netflix marathons doesn’t count as experiencing the real world. But they shouldn’t feel pressured to settle down right away. They should be allowed to experience new things and walk in a new frame of mind.