When I think back to my expectations of myself in high school, I cringe. I wanted to be a published author, married, and on my way to conquering the world by the time I was 21. I’m 22 now and am nowhere near accomplishing half of the things I expected to accomplish. In fact, I can barely answer the question, "what do you want?" Life has been so weird and unpredictable, my desires have left me for a roller coaster. And yet, I’m not half as worried as I was when I was in high school. I like the uncertainty. I like not writing anything in cement and having the freedom to change my mind. And that’s why I have come to learn to it is alright to not have everything figured out by the time we graduate.
Graduation is a beginning. Not an end.
When we finally receive that diploma it marks a new beginning. Most of us just think of it as, “I’m done! I’m finally free from homework and can get any job I want!” But in reality it is just a piece of paper saying we finished something. Which is great, but we still have a lot to learn (though I know none of us want to admit yet). We will still be rejected and we will still have to find our way. But now we have a diploma that is, not only proof of what we learned, but proof of our character — we saw it to the end. In that, we can be proud, but we must also remember we will be starting from the bottom again and not the top.
Ink vs. Cement. Possibilities vs. Prophecies.
When we write our dreams in ink, I think we are denying ourselves the freedom of possibilities. Life can be so much more crazy and beautiful than we give it credit for. And if our plans hadn’t been messed we would have never taken the opportunities that were forced our way. That is why I think the surprise of uncertainty is both frightening and exhilarating. If we follow a plan cemented into our hearts, then we will be forever crushed if it doesn’t pan out. But if we give ourselves the space to change our plans we will have little room for disappointment. Now I’m not suggesting we just go with everything. Most dreams require dedication and determination. However, at this stage in our lives, very few of us have found something to dedicate ourselves to. Until that happens, dabble in everything!
Let life change you.
As much as we all hate change, I don’t want to be the same person in twenty years. I’m glad I’m not the cement writing girl from high school and I don’t want to stagnate in who I am right now for the rest of my life. I want to change and keep changing. It’s frightening, but change has helped me see how far I have come and how much far I still have to go.
