It's not the same for everyone. And it's not something you can sum up in a few words. Peoples' reactions about graduation vary from place to place. But at the University, graduating students seem to agree on one thing - take advantage of every moment because it flies by.
Some people say they can still smell the Castle's notorious stench, while others feel like it was just yesterday they were mud sliding outside of dorms.
Fourth-year College student Beth Biscoe said she'd "give anything to be a first year again."
"I wish I had enjoyed it more," Biscoe said. "I didn't realize how easy I had it."
Biscoe, who plans to go to Vet school at Virginia Tech in the fall doesn't think she will feel like she's "in the real world" because her life still will revolve around academics.
But financially speaking, her life definitely will be different.
"I have to pay for everything," she said. "I'm getting cut off financially."
Although her parents still will help, Biscoe said she will need to pay them back whatever they give her.
Fourth-year College student Lauren Murphy seems to have the same worries in mind.
"My new best friend is going to be The Complete Idiot's Guide to Personal Finances in Your 20s and 30s," Murphy said. "I'm scared about leaving this microcosm where you have responsibilities that are fun instead of financial and serious."
Murphy plans to go to Spain in September, but right after graduation she will go back to her original home in California.
"It's going to be sad because I'm moving back to the West Coast and almost all my friends are going to be here on the East Coast," she said.
But despite the fact that Murphy will miss being "within a three mile radius of all her friends," she said there are some things she won't miss.
"I had a great time at the University," she said. "But I'm ready to leave the world of khakis, pink shirts and bow ties."
Like Murphy, fourth-year College student Amanda Foster-Baril has mixed feelings about leaving the University.
"There are certain moments that I have been sad," Foster-Baril said. "But I'm extremely excited to move on, be independent and not have to worry about financial connections to my parents."
Because Foster-Baril does not have definite plans for next year, she will go home this summer to lifeguard. But after a trip to Europe in June, she doesn't know where she will go.
"I've applied for jobs but haven't heard back," Foster-Baril said.
She doesn't seem to mind, though."I just don't talk to people who know what they are doing," she said with a laugh. "And I know my parents will support me if they need to."
Foster-Baril also thinks she is mature enough to handle any situation that comes her way.
"I want the independence," she said. "I didn't know what to do when I came to college, but you just learn. It comes to you, and when you make mistakes, they get fixed."
Fourth-year College student Andrea Boccarosse doesn't seem to be as ready to be on her own.
"I'm ready for the semester to be over but not the college life," Boccarosse said. "I could definitely come back in August."
Since Boccarosse and a friend each won Eurorail passes from the Student Traveling Association, they are "taking a break to travel" this summer.
Because of the uncertainty of the economy right now, Boccarosse isn't quite sure what she will do after her two-to three-month stay in Europe.
Boccarosse is confident that everything "will bounce back," though.
"I think everyone has the rest of their lives to work, so this is the perfect opportunity to postpone it," she said.
Boccarosse also said she regrets not getting more involved at the University and advises incoming and current students to "enjoy the little bubble you live in."
"The time goes fast, but every year gets better," she said.
Foster-Baril expressed similar sentiments.
"Every year has changed, but there were awesome things that happened every year," she said. "Have fun and take advantage of having and developing friendships."
And everyone agreed that the best memories were the unexpected ones.
"The things that I'll remember most are the unplanned moments," Biscoe said. "I'll definitely remember all the football games and Foxfield, but there are also all those random nights you stayed up late with friends."
That's probably why everyone spends their last few weeks spending time with each other.
"There's definitely a last minute effort for everyone to get together," Boccarosse said. "Last week I ate dinner with my hall from first year."
Biscoe said she "wants to spend time with the people who mean the most to her."
Anticipating the next two years when her best friend will be in the Peace Corps in Africa, she said she needs to "take advantage of this time."
Besides missing her friends, Biscoe isn't sure what it's going to be like to live in Blacksburg next year.
"We're conditioned to dislike Tech, and I think it's going to be a lot different than Charlottesville," she said. "I'm also going to miss how pretty the University's campus is compared to Tech."
Foster-Baril said she will miss being so close to anything that she wants.
"My best friend lives in my apartment building and I can walk over there whenever I want," she said. "I'm going to just miss closeness."
And even though everyone has regrets of some sort, whether they're about not getting involved in as much as they planned or about earning an embarrassing nickname one Friday night of first year, Foster-Baril advises to "not regret anything you do."
"Go out and have fun," she said. "Do want you want, and don't let school run your world because it's not the rest of your life"
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