Entering the bustling halls of my high school, I realized the numerous opportunities that awaited me in my four years of high school. Exposure to new things, new people, new sports; essentially a whole new life awaited me. Standing there, taking in everything, the smell of freshly sharpened pencils, the gleam of newly waxed floors and the numerous sounds of people yelling and high fives from people who saw each other for the first time since summer, I was excited and astounded for my future.

This all came to an abrupt halt as I entered a career planning session that was mandatory for all freshman. I sat there, in my guidance counselor's office. He looked at me, a 14-year-old girl with the sparkle in my eye of new hopes and excitement. The next words out of his mouth, "So have you thought about what you want to do for the rest of your life?" Instantaneously my mind started racing. I couldn't think of what to say so I sat there like a deer in headlights. I had never really thought about it before and I was shocked that it all happened so quickly. The opportunity of being an educated person always seemed like something I wanted to seize, but I wasn't sure at all about what I wanted to spend my life doing. Of course, as my next years of high school progressed, I got a better idea of what I wanted to pursue.

This situation is not uncommon; many new high school students nationwide are questioned about their future. It's an epidemic that causes panic as many people who are in college still aren't sure what they want to do with the rest of their lives. Even as a junior in college, I hear about people switching majors and pursuing new interests all the time, and I say that as a 20-year-old. The expectations that are set for us as little kids are completely unrealistic. Not to say that everyone is the same, but I know the majority of high school freshman and sophomores aren't positive of their academic interests.

Of course, starting early is the key to success; however, how early is too early? The mindset that exists in education hardens many teenagers and forces them to grow up before they even should think about what knowing what a 401K or Roth IRA investment plan is. As a teenager you should be able to go out, experience the Friday night football games, compete for a spot as a varsity athlete, join new clubs, meet as many people as possible, or even explore interests that one may not have been exposed to in childhood. High school is a time for experimentation in many different ways, and it shouldn't be interrupted by the real world creeping in to the heads of a younger generation before they have a chance to develop as a human being.