19 Words That Take On A New Meaning When You Graduate

    Graduation is when real life starts, and real life is weird.

    Luke Bailey
    by Luke Bailey

    BuzzFeed Staff, UK

    1. "Home"

    Thinkstock

    Used to mean: The place you go back to every couple of months.

    Now means: Where you inexplicably find yourself living again.

    2. "Loan"

    Disney / Via gifbay.com

    Used to mean: The thing you agreed to in order to get lots of money!

    Now means: The thing you agreed to in order to get lots of debt.

    3. "Going out"

    Via ishouldvenevergraduated.tumblr.com

    Used to mean: Something you can do easily, at any time.

    Now means: Something that suddenly is really, really tricky to organise.

    4. "Laundry"

    Thinkstock

    Used to mean: What you avoid doing until you have literally nothing left to wear. And sometimes not even then.

    Now means: What seems to be getting done quite regularly by your parents instead.

    5. "Friends"

    UK Film Council / Via nojustice.tumblr.com

    Used to mean: The massive group of people you always seem to be surrounded by.

    Now means: People you now only have digital contact with.

    6. "Library"

    Thinkstock

    Used to mean: Where you live.

    Now means: Where you'll never have to go again.

    7. "Internship"

    Lionsgate Entertainment / Via pandawhale.com

    Used to mean: Probably something to avoid.

    Now means: Probably what you'll actually have to do.

    8. "Job"

    FX / Via giphy.com

    Used to mean: What you expect to get immediately as soon as you graduate.

    Now means: Something you get only after a really long, protracted process.

    9. "Experience"

    Used to mean: What you'll get in your first job.

    Now means: Impossibly, what you'll need to get your first job.

    10. "Dream job"

    Lionsgate Entertainment / Via reactiongifcollection.tumblr.com

    Used to mean: What you are completely committed to pursuing.

    Now means: What you might come back to in a few years.

    11. "Interview"

    Thinkstock

    Used to mean: A one-on-one conversation with someone looking to hire you.

    Now means: A bizarre process involving a large group of people that will almost inevitably end up with you not getting hired.

    12. "Offer"

    13. "Waking up"

    Marvel Studios / Via giphy.com

    Used to mean: 11am. Maybe.

    Now means: 8am. Definitely.

    14. "Hard work"

    NBC / Via reddit.com

    Used to mean: 40 hours a week.

    Now means: 80 hours a week.

    15. "Morning"

    NBC / Via gifdumpdump.tumblr.com

    Used to mean: What you occasionally see if you have a very early lecture.

    Now means: A period when you actually do a lot of your work. Because you are at your job.

    16. "Payday"

    20th Century Fox / Via gifbay.com

    Used to mean: When your loan comes in.

    Now means: When your actual pay comes in. From your job. That you EARNED.

    17. "Budget"

    Via cheezburger.com

    Used to mean: Crippling restriction on fun.

    Now means: Less crippling restriction on fun.

    18. "Weekend"

    FOX / Via myfitnesspal.com

    Used to mean: The same as any other day. Because you don't do much.

    Now means: When everyone else is off as well and you can plan things!

    19. "Freedom"

    Via lalicrocitto9.tumblr.com

    Used to mean: Being able to wake up at 11am.

    Now means: Being able to do basically anything because YOU ARE AN ADULT.