For almost a year now, I've been working my ass off with little to no pay. It's been brutal living paycheck to paycheck or under the support of my family. I'm in college and I'll be 21 very soon. I don't want to be under my parents' wing for eternity. So this anxiety builds inside of me: What am I going to do with my future? How am I going to be financially stable by myself? Does that mean I'm going to have to work a dreaded 9-5 and miss out on the wonderful world outside my office desk?

The noise continues to rumble like a harsh storm brewing in the clouds, and I can't think. I know that I'm not alone in this. After high school, you start to realize, "Wow, it wasn't all about making friends and partying. There's a real world out there." And trust me when I say, I've thought about the "real world" a whole lot. But is the real world really about making the most money?

Let's face it, money indefinitely rules us all. We want the best paying jobs because we need that money to survive, to give back to our families and to give back to our communities. There is absolutely nothing wrong with desiring the security of a paycheck.

I recently did training to be a shoreline cleanup leader. Unpaid, of course. And although it's unpaid, I realized that my goal in life is never to strive for money. This goal may be different from yours, but let me tell you why this will bring you prosperity before you click the back button.

There's going to be a time in your life where you're going to be broke, and you're going to search and search for the job you want. You're going to get declined. You're going to feel like you're never going to make it, and when you feel that way, don't give up on yourself.

I've accepted jobs before because I was afraid of losing out on money, yet I was completely miserable. When I visited The Lady Project Summit, Ruma Bose, inspiring leader and President of Chobani Ventures, said that she too suffered through a dark path because her job as a consultant didn't align with her core values or personality.

Money was made to be spent. It will always come and go, but your happiness is what is most important. And a lot of people will say that money is a key factor in your happiness, which I can definitely agree with. But it should never be the reason.

I've realized that even though I am not getting paid for all that I do, I am still doing such great things. Life is about building connections and inspiring passion in others. It's about trying the best that you can to make a difference in the world, whether that means offering a little girl a helping hand or fixing someone's broken-down car. I'm sick of hearing about wars, cutting down trees, killing the bees and the greed of mine and yours. There is already too much angst in the world for me to add to it

I'm not saying to struggle with money for the rest of your life. I am saying that money will always be a part of our lives, but what is important is the actions of your job, not the result of getting paid. Please don't spend your hours leaving the world behind because you are tied to the shackles of financial fear.

The key to success is the light within you!