Beginning around junior year of high school, young people are constantly nagged with questions similar to, “What do you plan to study in college?" "What are your plans after college? "What do you want to with your degree?” Some students have an exact plan in mind, but don’t feel bad if you don’t or didn’t, because chances are, those with a plan will change their mind. According to the National Center of Education Statistics, 80 percent of students in the US change their major at least once; this 80 percent includes myself.
I’ve always felt a bit guilty about not knowing what I wanted to do with my life, but I’ve begun to realize that after 13 years of ceaseless, standardized schooling, how in the world could someone ever possibly know what they want to spend the rest of their life doing?! While some of my high school classes have taught me valuable skills including creating a resume and leasing versus buying a car, overall, everyone was taught the exact same generic information. Opportunities to learn about different careers are available, but mostly through independent research and readings which only aim to convince readers that the career is fantastic. The lack of opportunity to explore, at a young age, what this world has to offer leaves students overwhelmed and exhausted later in life. However, the unknown is not something to be feared.
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The unknown is often intimidating, horrifying and produces anxious students; however, the unknown leads to unplanned opportunities and perhaps the discovery of a passion to last a lifetime. Students who have their entire life planned out may seem like they have it together, but often will not spontaneously try out a new job just to see what it’s like and may miss out on extraordinary things simply because they are following their strict, strategic plan. If a student is unsure of their calling, then why follow a strict path to an uncertainty? Instead, it will be much more rewarding to be spontaneous, do what is intriguing and simply go with the flow. While some opportunities may turn out to be duds, something was still learned; you now know of something you once found fascinating, but do NOT enjoy. Knowing what you do NOT enjoy is just as important as knowing what you DO enjoy.
From me to you, it’s okay not to know; appreciate the unknown and the spontaneity in its entirety.
As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”
