Your final exams may be over, but there is another assignment you need to complete before you graduate. There are some unspoken tips that graduates aren’t told before they walk across the stage and turn their tassels.

Here’s a checklist that you need to complete that covers your personal and physical matters:

1. Sell unwanted books and dorm essentials

The last thing you should want, is to move back home with a lot of unnecessary baggage that you don’t know what to do with. This includes, the book you only opened once, to the desk storage you had for the majority of your college career. The best thing to do is to make a pile of what you want to keep, and a pile of what you don’t need.  

Afterwards, take to your social media to sell the things you don’t need, but might be great for another student. Make sure your things are in a gently used to excellent condition, and are reasonably priced. Like they say, your trash can become someone’s treasure. 

2. Donate clothes and food

It’s easy to accumulate tons of t-shirts, and other clothing items in college that you probably won’t wear after graduation. Instead of packing those unneeded clothes to take back home, find a local consignment store or charity to donate those items to. In comparison to the previous tip, make sure these items are in gently used to excellent condition.

Also, it’s not resourceful to throw unopened food in the garbage. Collect your non-perishable foods and donate them to students who are staying on campus for the summer, or local food drives and other charities. This small act of service can make a major impact on those on your campus, or in your community.

3. Evaluate Relationships 

We’ve all heard that college is the place where you find your best friends, but all relationships don’t last until the end of time. Everyone isn’t meant to go into the next phase of life with you, and that’s fine. Take some time and think about all of your friends, and where they stand in your life.

Think about the people who’ve supported you in every season of your life, the people who have been so-so, and the people who pop in and out of your life at their convenience. You shouldn’t make room for mediocre relationships, so only keep your ride-or-dies around. If they’re not a ride-or-die, follow the wise words of O.T. Genasis and cut it.

4. Look the Part

Now that you’ve done some personal and physical cleaning, it’s time to make sure you look good when you walk across the stage. You can start by steaming your graduation gown, because the checkerboard squares from the packaging don’t look good. Also, find clothing that complements your gown and doesn’t bleed through.

Lastly, you need to be comfortable and confident when you walk across the stage, so find sensible shoes. Everyone has seen the viral videos of graduates doing the teeter totter across the stage, and we all should learn from them, and make sure that’s not you.

Congratulations on completing your last assignment! You’re now ready to move boldly and confidently into your next move, and free from unneeded things and people.