This week, because I didn’t receive any questions via e-mail, I’m going to write about a question that’s been weighing on my mind. Recently I was chatting with one of my New Student Week freshman buddies and our conversation went as follows.

Her: “So, Margo, you’re old – how do you meet people? You know, like, who do you hang out with? I mean, how do you meet people outside of school?”

Me: “Um-I know people from all over, I guess-high school-college-work. So, yeah I guess people meet people at work. And out, at bars. For one-night stands-”

Her: “So how do you, like, meet real people though, like for relationships?”

I was at a loss. My sage, or as she calls it, “old fart,” advice was failing me. So I changed the subject by talking about our hot, straight-off-the-boat Italian economics TA.

But I’ve been thinking about our conversation ever since. This may come as a surprise to some of you, but there is life after college. I, a 23-year-old, recently-transferred junior, have gotten a glimpse of this life. And let me tell you – it’s not pretty. It may seem glamorous, but mostly my friends are flat broke. Some are still living at home with their parents, but most play beer pong on the weekends in the “dining room” of their crappy post-college apartment. This is why I, like many others, just decided to stay in college and hoped to ride the wave as long as possible. It’s been fairly costly, but I think my fear of moving on makes up for it. Great friends, great classes, semi-anonymous sex with that person from Sociology 101 while using the cheap condoms from Searle – what could be better? Who could want anything more? Why else would I cram four years of college into six?

But, like all good things, college must come to an end. And then, apparently, after that, you have to leave. But, how does life go on after college? And how, as my young friend so eloquently asked, do you meet people for, like, relationships? (She may need to stay on for a couple extra quarters for her grammar.)

My answer, dear readers, is friends. Whether you and yours stick around Chicago or return to hometowns after you toss your cap, stay in touch with your friends. Rekindle with friends from high school who are also back at home. Buddy up with new coworkers. Friends will be able to introduce you to people they work with, and be your wingmen when you want to holler at someone at your new neighborhood bar. They may even turn out to be the people who you want to have, like, relationships with. Or, if not, they will even be there to help you send out your resume after your first failed office romance with the boss.

So, enjoy the college life while it lasts, kids. Learn lots, enjoy those condoms from Searle, and form those lasting bonds with friends. Because they will be the most important thing you take with when you leave NU. That much I do know. And, if all else fails, get the hot TA’s number.4

SESP junior Margo Scott is a PLAY sex columnist. She can be reached at [email protected].