Kansas University students, from left, Erin Vernon, an Overland Park graduate, Laraine Kyle, a Shawnee senior, and Tracy Simon, a Wichita senior, laugh during a presentation about office etiquette Saturday at the Adams Alumni Center, 1266 Oread Ave. Soon-to-be KU graduates and alumni received a crash course in Life

Kansas University seniors can breathe easy. There is, in fact, life after KU.

That was the message the KU Alumni Association was telling a group of students Saturday, with graduation looming in 84 short days. A number of speakers gave advice on financial planning, professional etiquette, how to negotiate a first salary, and other topics to help new grads easily transition into the working world.

“We hope they learn more about the alumni center and that they feel more connected to some of the programs after they graduate,” said Jennifer Alderdice, director of student programs.

Speakers told students to keep their chins up, despite the pressures of life in the real world. David Johnston, director of Internet services and marketing for the alumni association, told the group to always keep their dream job in mind.

“Never lose that enthusiasm or that question: ‘What do I want to be when I grow up?'” he said.

Many attending students fretted about life after graduation. The specter of life on their own, coupled with seeing job offers gobbled up by friends, was daunting.

Senior Rachel Barnes, Hutchinson, has friends who have accepted job offers and admission to law school. She applied to graduate programs at KU, Iowa State University and Ohio State University. But she was concerned about what she would do if she weren’t accepted to graduate school.

“It’s scary to not have everything planned out,” she said. But she expected to learn more at the luncheon. “I wouldn’t mind sticking around in Lawrence. Hopefully this (seminar) will give me some direction for what I want to do after college.”

Senior Whitney Clarke, Garden City, was especially interested in learning about financial planning. She is planning her wedding, and wanted to learn more about balancing finances.

“Anything I can take away to make my financial life better is good,” said Clarke, who also went to a session called “That First Job.” “I took notes at both of them, which I don’t usually do.”

Josh Swank, a 2006 graduate who works for Sprint, said he wanted to learn more about what other working professionals experience.

“I liked the financial stuff,” he said. “It gave me some ideas about what to do with the money you have now.”

He also attended a session that discussed how to negotiate employment contracts.

Swank said it was empowering “to know that you have the power to say, ‘This is what I’m worth.'”

Ryan Northup, a member of the university’s Board of Class Officers, announced the senior class gift at the luncheon. The class will donate an inlay to the front of the David A. Ambler Student Recreation Fitness Center.