10 years ago, if I was approached with this question, eight year old me probably would have said I wanted to be a veterinarian or an astronaut or a princess. Today, I truly have no idea, but I thought I did. Twice.

I entered college with a plan. I knew what I was going to be, what I was going to do. I thought I knew everything and had a plan. A set in stone path.

I was going to be a Chiropractor with a Kinesiology degree and a pre-med emphasis. I would have a well-paying job that would always be needed. It was part of the medial field, so it would always be an option and would never be a bad idea. I had a perfect plan. I would graduate for the University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire and then head off to graduate school at Palmer Chiropractic. It was the best plan I had ever thought through. Until I was at college that is.

I got to school and I had realized that I did not appreciate science and math as much as that degree required. I was in shock when I realized that my plan had backfired. Did I really think through every last detail that was a part of my now shattered plan? Truly yes, I did in fact do that exact thing. I knew that it was going to take a lot of things I didn’t like but instead I chose to ignore that idea and just jumped into what I thought was going to be best for me.

Although what I did next was even worse not thinking through the first plan. I went onto what I thought was the next best thing, the degree of Elementary School Education. It was a safe bet for me. I love kids, I love helping people, and so what better combination of the two would they be other than teaching, right? Wrong. My mom and my grandma both had teaching degrees so I thought I might as well continue the legacy. Well I realized that teaching was not what I wanted to do, at all. Sure I love kids but not enough to teach 20 or so of them in a single room for seven hours. So as soon as I could I switched out.

And so in the spring of my freshman year I had finally made possibly the best decision for myself I had made all year. I chose to switch to an undeclared student. I am now on schedule to dip my toes in many different waters and see if those waters end up taking me anywhere.

So yes, I did have a plan and yes that plan did fall apart, as did the next one. But three majors in as a freshman you tend to learn a lot. I learned that it’s okay to have no idea what you’re wanting to do. It is okay to have your plans fall apart. It is okay to be undeclared. Do not let the aspect of money and time shove to through a tight and narrow path, because it’s the safe choice or because it’s easy. Instead choose to take that time to find what you love and go through the wide open dark paths and challenge yourself.

We are young adults. I don’t feel as though I should have to know what I want to be or do for the rest of my life at the ripe old age of 19. I have people tell me that I have time and that at so and so age they still have no idea what they want to be when they grow up. Sure it’s funny and hard to believe but as you can probably tell it is possibly some of the best of the wise words to listen to.

Please take time. Don’t pigeon-hole yourself. Try the fun, difficult, weird things and see what lights that spark in your soul.