As the year winds down and seniors get ready to go off to college and juniors begin their final college and major searches, I would just like to give out a little bit of unsolicited advice toward the subject of "futures" that I genuinely think needs to be reiterated for high school students.

First and foremost, I want to encourage high schoolers to go to college. It's great to get an education. It's great to meet people. It's important to make connections and be better qualified for their job field. However, I think that graduating seniors and prospective juniors should only be going to college if they want to.

If a student wants to end their education with their high school diploma, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. If you want to go to art school, go for it. If you want to go into one of the trades, then do that. If you want to go to culinary or pastry school, then please do. I cannot stress this enough: do what you want to do regardless of what other people are pressuring you to do.

No one but yourself is in charge of your life. No matter how much your friends or family or parents or society is telling you to go to university. If you want to go out to New York and try to make it on Broadway, then please do so. If you have absolutely no interest in getting a career and would rather work odd job to pay for traveling, then please do that.

Nobody ever seems to be told to do what they want; to do what will make them happy. Everyone is simply told to go out and get their bachelors degree, or better yet a masters or a PhD. If I could tell high school students, and people in general one thing it would be that you do not need to go to college if you do not want to. You don't always need a higher education to be successful.

With all that being said, I also want to make it clear that under no circumstances am I saying that you shouldn't take advantage of a college education. If you think that's best for you, then do it. If you need that to succeed, then do it. If you simply want to go to college, THEN DO IT.

What I'm really trying to say here, and what I'm trying to impress upon everyone, is that you need to follow your own thoughts and wishes in what you plan to do for your future. It is not up to anyone else in the entire world besides yourself as to what you are to do with your life. As long as you aren't hurting anyone or anything, you're free to your own choices. You are free to run your own life.

All in all, my advice to students is: do what you want to be happy, because nothing is more important than that.