It’s only natural that such a question would make anyone queasy. After all, confronting the fact that your college career is coming to an end is a scary prospect.

Soon loan lenders will be expecting payments, your parents might expect you to contribute to household funds and more than anything else, it will be up to you to fund your own existence, which may include paying rent and buying groceries. In addition to the stressful connotations this question conjures, it’s by far the most frequently asked question by family, friends, professors and strangers alike, making its repetition annoying.

But it’s not a matter of whether you have a job lined up or have plans for graduate studies, it’s about the end of a great routine. One of the scariest things to consider after college is that never again in your life will you be surrounded by so many people in your age group, or have the luxury of staying up until all hours of the night and morning discussing hot issues like politics, religion and philosophy. After college, the chances of seeing your friends as easily and as often as you want becomes increasingly slim.

When reflecting back on my college experience the list of people and things I miss is endless. I miss talking to professors, having class outside in the early fall and late spring, meeting friends for coffee in the middle of the day. I even miss pulling all-nighters.

When I graduated in May 2007, I knew part of me would always relive my college experiences and forever miss the friendships formed. Perhaps that’s why when I was asked repeatedly by virtually everyone I knew what my post-college plans were, I wanted to hide in a hole. In the end, no matter how much I wanted to, I did not graduate with a job and thus endured many annoying pep talks about how much of my life I had ahead of me.

Now, nearly eight months post-graduation, I’m working and finding time to do the things I love to do. Although loan payments are due and various responsibilities and expectations are growing exponentially, life is manageable.

While you may have to painfully endure people repeatedly asking you what your post-college plans are, know that your life will fall into place, even if you don’t have job interviews, offers or plans for graduate school in sight. Just be innovative and thoughtful about life’s big picture and where it is you want to go. In the meantime don’t stress and make sure to enjoy the final home stretch of your undergraduate career.