Boring Grown-Up Stuff: Your Path

As a kid, you don't have a lot of independence. You go to school, you have your hobbies, and you mostly do what your parents want for you. When you grow up, there are so many more paths open to you. You could go to university or college, travel, work, or even stay with your parents awhile longer.

It can be hard to choose a path the minute you're officially a grown-up, and this can be made harder by people's expectations. One of my close friends isn't sure what she wants to do with her life yet, so she wants to spend an extra year in high school to figure it out, but her parents want her to go to university right away. She doesn't know what to do, and it's really stressing her out.

Your parents probably want what's best for you, but sometimes their expectations can pressure you too much. I feel very lucky in that my parents have said they'll support whatever decision I make, and I know I can always talk to them if I'm not sure.

I think what I'm trying to say is that you don't need to have it all figured out yet. There's no shame in being a 'grown-up' but not knowing where life is taking you. You have the rest of your life to work on it, so don't rush now! Just because you're not on the most academic or the most straightforward path, that doesn't mean you're any less worthy!

Take your time in choosing your path. Talk to people with jobs you're interested in. Ask your parents or other trusted adults for help. Make sure you're happy with where life takes you. Your life should make you happy first, not anyone else.