Dear Mom and Dad,

As I was going off to college last year, I thought I knew what I wanted to do with my life. I was confident about the college I chose to start my new journey, the things I wanted to be involved in, and the path I wanted to follow to start my career after graduation, but as I experienced a few things, I started to doubt the person I planned to become.

Orientation started and it was a heavy, but helpful week packed of information that I would later use throughout my first year of college. As it was coming to an end, I had finally met with my academic advisor and had a conversation with her about my interests. There and then, I decided I wanted to major in Biology/Pre-Med and minor in Psychology to become an Occupational Therapist not knowing how wrong I was later in the school year. Every time I was asked what I wanted to major in, I thought I had the right answer, but every time I answered the question, I noticed a slight change in the mood I was answering with, but I didn't realize how uninterested I was becoming in my planned career until I took my first science class.

You and other people may disagree with the decision I made of not taking another science course after the first one just to give things a try, but after trying several classes my first year to figure myself out, I finally knew what I wanted to devote my time to, and I didn't need another year to figure out the career I was striving for. Although I am about to continue with my second year of college this fall and will keep learning new things and gaining new interests, as crazy as it might sound to you, I think I might have made up my mind about what path I will follow for the sake of my happiness, and for that reason, I ask that you keep supporting me even though you might have mixed emotions about me going from a future OT to a teacher.

I don't ask for you to like everything I do or will do in the future, but I do want you to keep supporting me through good and bad times. I know that teachers don't get paid very well for the hard work they do in comparison to an OT, but I don't really worry about the money I will make when I am just thinking about how happy I will be surrounded by children's laughter and good energy. I promised you both that I would take care of you, and getting paid less does not mean that it is impossible for me to keep my promises. You have taught me everything I know, and I am beyond thankful for that. Despite the many challenges we have faced and will keep facing in life, there is nothing that can stop me from achieving my goals and be the person I want to be nor stopping us from proving ourselves and others wrong.

So, thank you for your endless love and tremendous support, I love you.