As the fall semester comes to an end, a number of Kent State students are prepare to go into their last semester of being college students.

Making the transition from life as a college student to a member of the work force can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be.

Lyndsey Fortunato, marketing coordinator for Alliance Solutions Group, graduated from Kent State in 2013 with a degree in public relations.

She had some internship advice to offer Kent State students nearing graduation.

“A good-paying part-time job is nice, but finding an internship in your field will help you make connections and gain experience,” she said.

Fortunato also assured students the process of going from campus life to the real world doesn’t have to be a difficult one. She suggests making small changes over time to make the adjustment easier.

“Find ways to start living like an independent adult while you’re still on campus, and the transition to full-on post-grad life will be much smoother,” she said.

Ian Cook originally graduated from Kent State in 2013 with a degree in nutrition and is currently in his second year as a graduate student at Kent State. He advised students to be conscious of the decisions they make as they near graduation.

“Don’t burn bridges with anyone, you never know who you could be working with or for after school is over,” Cook said.

According to a survey conducted by Pew Research Center, 62 percent of millennials who are college graduates found their higher institution investment paid off.

No matter how stressful classes get, Fortunato urges students not to get too worried about college and the transition into life after graduation.

“One mistake, one missed opportunity or one bad grade isn’t the end of the world,” Fortunato said. “You have the rest of your life ahead of you.”

Maggie Wachtel is the finance reporter for The Kent Stater. Contact her at [email protected].