Good news college graduates: You’re an adult. Hooray! The bad news? You’re an adult, sucker.

For the young men and women just released into the wild, there is no armistice in the war between expectation and reality. And reality is a nuclear power.

I can’t give any advice that would apply to everyone. Or guarantee you don’t know it already. Or even claim I followed it myself. But this is My Corner, dammit, and I’ll play hack if I want to.

Don’t rush to leave home. Rent on that apartment will look reasonable, until you realize you didn’t factor in water, electric, garbage and groceries. “New pants cost HOW much?” you’ll say, before remembering you always meant to learn how to sew. If you can, stay home awhile. Pay your folks rent. Set a realistic deadline to move and save your money.

Job hunting is a job. Set time daily to sit down and apply for work. You will probably fail. A lot. But you only need one yes.

Pick up a hobby. In college, you were able to learn something new every three-to-five months. But repetition defines adult life. Keep yourself sane. Read. Draw. Hike. Learn a language. Your life won’t make time for itself.

Sort yourself out before dating. Look, love is nice. And everyone wants to be loved. But if the waters are turbulent enough, your rock will become an anchor trapping you in a storm. Or worse: you’ll find you’re someone else’s anchor. Love just works better when you’ve figured out the other stuff.

It’s what you do that matters, not what you “are.” Professors may have praised your potential in college, but potential is poor currency in a land that trades in the real. Don’t insist on your talent; prove it. Volunteer for projects. Stay late. Always strive to improve. And don’t waste time mourning your job when you can use it to do the best damn job you’re able.