It’s crazy to me that teenagers are expected to know what they want to do and who they want to be as soon as they graduate high school. Before your Junior year you’re being asked what college you’re going to, what major you’ll have and where you’re going to live. Once you actually decide on a major, people will wonder if you’ll actually be able to get a job, and trust me, they’re not subtle about it. The questions only get deeper once you’re actually in college. What do you want to do after you graduate? Do you have an internship planned? Where will you live once you’re out of college? How will you pay off your student loans?

All of these “what if” questions seem daunting, but guess what? Much to contrary belief, you don’t have to have your whole life figured out right now. I went to college thinking I wanted to be a Nursing major, only to realize I’m terrible at science and don’t actually enjoy doing the tasks Nurses have to do. I was forced to take a hard look at my life, and figure out the activities I truly enjoy. I’ve always been a writer and I love social media. I kept these in mind and figured out what kind of career I could have that would allow me to do these things. I changed my major to Mass Communications my Sophomore year and I have never enjoyed my classes so much.

This is the time in our lives where we can try anything we want to, with little consequences. Take classes that interest you, whether they’re about dinosaurs or English literature. Join every club that sounds like fun, even if you only go to the first meeting. Travel as much as you can, take road trips and go on adventures. Explore the things you love and build a life around that. Don’t let other people’s opinions dictate where you choose to go with your life. Follow your passions and let them open up new worlds for you.

Some experiences might not work out, and that’s okay. Our failures teach us just as much, if not more, than our successes. Learn from your mistakes and let them guide you into the life you want to lead. You might not have everything figured out right away, but when you do you’ll be thankful for the opportunities that lead you there.