  Since as far as I can go back they have always been present. nbsp;  Whether we can dot our i's and cross our t's or multiply without a calculator. nbsp;  Later on the IOWA basics become a once year deal. nbsp;
 These mundane tests are then replaced with every highschooler's favorite bubble sheet,  the SAT. nbsp;  The test that comes with so much built in anxiety. nbsp;  Burger flipper or College,
 determined by shaded in A's,  B's,  C's,  and D's. nbsp;  I was able to go to&
nbsp; the former,  where the word test is erased from our vocabulary and replaced with the much more threatening exam term. nbsp;  Senior year rolls around and there are two main options to choose from:  more education (
grad,  law,  medical)  or real world. nbsp;  Now the more education comes with tests that make sure we know where the hypotenuse lies on a triangle and to make sure our vocabulary is up to the&
nbsp; Scrabble dominating level. nbsp;  These tests go by the name of GMAT,  GRE,  LSAT,
 MCAT. nbsp;  I chose the other route,  the Real World. nbsp;  No lavish 3 story house in exciting cities or on the beach with roommates that become horny with the sight of a camera.
nbsp;  Basement,  Detroit,  80 hour work weeks. nbsp;  In retrospect it's good that I started there.
nbsp;  I can only move up and I did. nbsp;  One bedroom apartment in Connecticut. nbsp;  From the outside things look better,
 but my life is more like a Monet than a Rembrandt. nbsp;  Get close to the& nbsp; painting and you soon realize my life isn't so clear. nbsp;
 I propose there should be a federal mandate making sure all college graduates are prepared for the real world. nbsp;  Question 1:  Are you willing to work for the next 40 years. Hmmm thats a tough one Question 2:  True or false,
 at the young age of 23 should you plan for retirement? nbsp;  Sadly enough this is true and I'm starting to learn more about Roth IRA's and 401k's ( I diversified in 5 mutual funds I researched on my own) nbsp;  5 Mutual funds that the Ipod I want will have to wait another day.
nbsp;  Day,  no more like a few months from now.  Question 3:  Can you really cook? nbsp;
 Now this is a trick question. nbsp;  Yes we all can cook,  some better than others ( I'm an other)  But after working from 8-
6,  do we want to. nbsp;  Hell no,  we want to sit on that couch and watch reruns of Ross and Rachel,  even though we know the outcome of those Friends.
 Question 4:  Are you sure you are& nbsp; ready to live alone? nbsp;  Cleaning up after roommates,
 having to wait for washers,  showers,  and stovetops the answer would seem obvious. nbsp;  Setting down the laptop bag on the counter and looking at my empty surrounding I wouldn't mind the hassle.  This and many more questions should have been asked upon graduation.
nbsp;  Still even if it was laid out in front of us on 8x11 paper with a staple in the upper left hand corner we wouldn't know what to write. nbsp;  The experience is where the learning comes from.  Here I am with feelings much like in February. nbsp;
 Yearning for friends,  family,  and a job I liked. nbsp;  It's not all gloomy. nbsp;
 I've learned things take time and that happiness doesn't come in a Fed Ex envelope. nbsp;  It goes the oversea route aboard a ship. nbsp;  It can be rough and take time,  but thats when you grab life by the horns and hold on.
