As children we go through different phases of deciding who and what we want to be when we grow up. We would change our minds every other day about being the next firefighter or an actress! I remember thinking I wanted to be a veterinarian when I was in the first grade. Much time has passed since then, and things change. Sometimes our decision making can be hectic for us.

Every parent has specific aspirations for their child. They want you to be successful and live a nice life. What exactly does it mean to have a nice life? What does it mean to be successful? There are merely what you personally believe they are. If you feel that finishing high school is successful for you, then that is your success. We often are influenced by the world around us about the "real" meaning of succeeding in life. The truth is, we all have different goals and plans for our lives. Sometimes, those are different from what other people expect from us. Other times the paths we choose can change direction. We need to begin to understand that change is okay. I personally know that I hate change. I hate it so much because it is uncomfortable. The change itself is healthy, but the transition period is the scary part.

My entire life, I have known exactly what I want to do and what I need to do to get there. That eventually changed for me in college. I decided that I needed to change majors and study psychology. A lot of people thought this was an easy choice, but it wasn't. It isn't easy to let go of what is familiar to us. Today, I know that I will be a psychiatrist or a psychologist. If that changes again down the road, then it does. Change is good. Finding your passion and traveling your road is good. Some roads are meant to be travelled upon even if they hold dead ends. I am 20 years old. I have decided to stop allowing society define me and tell me that I should know exactly what I want to do with my life. We're young and we should be exploring the world around us. Be free to try new things. If you have a passion, reach for it. Tomorrow isn't promised, and life shouldn't be wasted on trying to live up to someone else's standards. It's your life. So live it.