In high school, my plan for college was to go right after high school and graduate in four years. Everything changed for me during the second semester of my senior year when I decided to take a gap year before going to college. During my gap year, I got some much-needed job experience along with doing an internship. On top of that, I looked into the college process more, where I wanted to go, and what I wanted to do with my life. By the end of the year, I committed on going to a different college than I had planned on during my senior year and declared a different major than I was planning on doing before.

For the first two years of college, I was set to graduate in four years as I had planned despite changing my major and minor during that time. In my third year, I decided to look into adding onto my major with a certificate. A year later, I decided that I wouldn't add to my education with a certificate, but with another major. I decided to change my minor to a major, and end up double majoring instead of doing a major, minor, and a certificate. No matter if I would have chosen a certificate or major, I knew that I would have to go a little bit longer, and I was okay with that. So, instead of four years of school, I would be going for five.

Now, I have one year left of school, and it's going to be good. By the end of the year, I will have two degrees that I have worked hard for, and I am so proud of that.

The reason why I am sharing this with whoever is reading this is because I want to tell you that it's okay to choose your own path in life. Whether it's going to college right after high school or taking a gap year. Whether it's going for four years and graduating or graduating in five, six, or seven years. Whether you decide to go to college or not. Whether you go to school in your twenties or decide to go back to school in your forties. It's all up to you, and what you want in life. We should be lifting each other up, and not tearing each other down.