It's graduation time. It's a thrilling time for a lot of 18 year olds in our coverage area, as well as their parents. Dress pants are being ironed, shoes and being polished and the finishing touches are being put on speeches.

Here at the newspaper office we're all scrambling to finish up this year's graduation section that highlights all the graduating seniors. Well, ideally. We'll say we're highlighting "most" of the graduating seniors since we always seem to have a hard time getting all those with "senioritis" to turn in their information. (Editors note, I'm amazed that spell check says senioritis is a real word. See, it really is an epidemic.)

I can't help but look back and remember my own case of senioritis when I was about to graduate college this time five years ago. My last semester of college was something close to a nightmare. I was taking a tough load of senior level public relations courses which included an extensive project with the Jonesboro Chamber of Commerce. On top of that , I was the assistant director of the Wesley United Methodist Campus Ministry and our pastor, who was also a Chaplin in the army, was called to active duty in Iraq. Suddenly I was left alone in charge of a mission trip to Mexico with more than 60 people. Did I mention that I was also planning my wedding, which was set to take place just two weeks after graduation?

Yes, it was quite the hectic time for me. Parts of it are just a blur, but there are also a lot of great memories and expectations about what the future has to hold.

Now five years later I'm working in a job I love (most of the time -- except for graduation editions) and I'm getting ready to celebrate my five year wedding anniversary.

And seniors, I do have a small confession to make. I never had my picture taken for the college annual my senior year. So I guess I can't fuss about your senioritis too much.

Good luck and congratulations!