High school is a confusing and stressful time.

Your freedom is limited. Your day is under a strict schedule. It's the same thing every single day. Even the occasional pep-rally doesn't offer any relief from the well-oiled machine that is high school.

Yes, you make friends. Yes, you get involved in things you like to do, such as student council, theatrical productions, yearbook editing, and chorus. However, those activities only distract you for a short time. You reallyjust want to get out.

I know, because I've been there. My high school journey is finally over, and I can tell you with 100 percent sincerity that I feel nothing but relief.

But high school is in the past -- the pressing question is one that every high school graduate has: What now? Do I go to college? Do I get a job? Do I chill in my parents' basement eating Doritos and playing Call of Duty? What do I do?

The answer is simple: Dowhatever you want. I can't tell you what to do with your life. No one can.

Let's be honest -- in high school, there is so much that is expected of you: getting good grades, passing all your tests, getting involved, staying out of trouble, and having your life planned out. Even in middle school, you have career days where you go through detailed research to find the exact job that suits you before you even know how jobs work. (Or was that just me?)

Each day leading up to the day we finally graduate, students are put under a lot of pressure. We are led to believe that graduating without a plan is not an option. You've got to get scholarships, find that job, be a success, and make your high school look good. You need to know exactly where you want your life to go, or you'll end up living in a van or in your parents' basement.

Let me reassure you that this is far from the truth. While planning ahead is never a bad thing, doing so before you're ready could be. Society tells us to get our lives together. They tell us, "Wake up! You need to make money!" They want us to find work, decide what we want to do right now, and that regret isn't an option. You're told to get a job and make a living doing something. Whether or not you enjoy the job doesn't matter. They want to pressure you to commit to something before you're ready to do so, but I have news for you: Society does not control you.

No one can tell you what to do. No one can pressure you into making a decision before you're ready. Not everyone graduates high school and goes straight to college. In fact, not everyone graduates high school or goes to college. No one is in control of your life but you. Do you want to flip burgers for the rest of your life? Grab that spatula! Do you want to chase your dream of singing for a living? Step to the microphone! Do you want to work behind a desk for your whole life? Have at it! Don't let anyone stop you. It's your life. It's your time. It's your decision. Don't let anyone make it for you. Don't fall under the pressure. Take this time and let it refine you.

So, the next time you have a career day at school, or the next time anyone tells you what you should do in your life, take some time to remember whose life it is. Remember who is in control. People may try to influence your decision, but they can't decide for you. You take the reins of your life and show them who the boss is.

This is your life.