When I was little, the "Choose Your Own Adventure" books were quite popular. For those of you who aren't familiar with them, as you read a story, you can have a series of decisions to make. These decisions are made by flipping to various pages and continuing to read the story as a result of what you chose to do.
If you decide to enter the haunted house through the front door, turn to Page 6.
If you decide to walk away, turn to Page 19.
If you decide to check out the creepy shed in the back, turn to Page 35.
It made things interesting, to be able to put a bit of yourself into the story and see how well you would fare in certain situations. It also made the book great for re-reading and choosing different paths. From those books, I learned a pretty good life lesson.
Although they should, people oftentimes don't live life by choosing their own adventure. This is because, even if we did all make the same decisions, it doesn't always turn out the same for everyone or every time we make them.
Although most of us aren't even in the same series, let alone the same book, we often look at the choices that others make and forget that we are able to make our own. If everyone else is facing a haunted house in their life and they are able to neglect to study and still do well, that doesn't mean it's a good choice for you, too.
Sometimes, we make the mistake of comparing our haunted houses to other people's deep sea adventures. We think we know better or know what's right when really, the decisions we are making are not options for the other people.
This is especially applicable during finals season. Although we are all going through it, we should be making decisions based on our experiences and what works best for us, not what everyone else is doing. No two finals are the same; the final for an English major is different from an Engineer. Not harder or easier, just different.
Even when you think it's all over and every test is done, there comes a time of odd anticipation when we all wait to see how we did. If you're like me, you were on the fence in a few courses, and these finals (which for some unknown reason count for 15-30% of your grade) could make or break your letter grade.
How exactly that makes sense is beyond me, but I digress.
You chose your adventure up to this point. You chose to study as much as you did, and you chose to dedicate your time to one thing instead of another. Those choices will have an outcome in the upcoming weeks. You're reading the pages of the choice you made back before you truly understood the impact of your actions.
The outcomes may or may not be the same as you've been getting – whether they are better or worse – and they may not be the same as what other people are getting. But it's your adventure.
Decide to stop comparing yourself to other people, and turn to Page 20.
Decide to forgive yourself for having a tough week, and turn to Page 37.
Decide to learn from the past and be better in the future, and turn to Page 61.
Every "Choose Your Own Adventure" was full of learning experiences. Maybe I shouldn't have explored that shady shed three choices ago. Life is the same way – learn, and move on. Neither story is over until it's over.
