When I was younger, the answer was very black and white. Regardless of our parents' occupations, most of my friends wanted to be either a doctor or a teacher. It made sense, those were the only adult jobs we encountered on an everyday basis. So, when I was six, I planned on being a teacher. Such a career suited me, too. I loved children and I played teacher almost everyday with my three younger siblings. But as I grew older and so many other fields were introduced to me, I began to explore the other options. Maybe I wasn’t meant to be a teacher.

Although I am only in my second year of high school, many of my friends already have their entire lives planned: from what career they want to pursue to how many children they hope to have. When the time comes to begin touring colleges, my parents will ask me what field I am interested in to narrow down the list of school visits. You must at least have a favorite subject in school or maybe a hobby? Are there any world issues that you feel strongly about or some way you would like to make a difference? But still, I shake my head. Because while I may enjoy writing articles or solving equations now, I fear I cannot stay grounded. Continuing to do the same thing for the rest of my life just does not appeal to me.

Its humorous to me that as young adults we are expected to be dead set on a career when we have barely experienced a fraction of the world. What If I miss the opportunity to find my passion, because I was rushed down another path too soon?

While I still have unanswered questions about the things I have yet to see and experience on this earth, I have had the chance to watch my parents throughout a part of their adulthood. While I am not certain that I am ready to go onto pursue a role that my parents hold in the workforce, I am certain I want to follow in their footsteps in many aspects of my life.

I hope someday to have my dad’s confidence. My dad is a man whose presence can make you feel safe and whose laugh can ensure a smile on your face. I must confess, when I was younger I used to be embarrassed that my father was so loud. I knew people were intimidated by him. On occasion even I was intimidated by him. Watching him now makes me proud. I have accumulated his gift for public speaking. I can only hope my smile is as contagious as my dad’s smile.

My mother on the other hand is very nurturing. From the time I was young, she always fed me nutritious meals and made sure I always brushed my teeth before bed. While these small details seemed a nuisance at the time, as well as unimportant to building my character, I am extremely thankful for my mom. Without her to instill these values in me, I would not have learned at an early age that it is the little things that matter the most—always saying please and thank you, never leaving your dish at the table after dinner. I aspire to pass on these same values to my children someday.

One thing I know for certain is my hope to be a mother someday. Growing up with three younger siblings, I value my family over everything. When all else fails, my family always shows constant love and support. While I may get annoyed with my family more than I get along with them, I owe everything I have become to the people who raised me. I want to be a mother to share what I’ve learned as a daughter and a sister; hopefully passing on the love to my little ones that my parents passed onto their four children.