This is something I was going to refrain from discussing, but for some reason I feel as if I truly need to.

To begin, I want to note that my articles do not prompt the most popularity. I write about topics that I deem important. As part of my morality, I tend to shy away from writing articles solely upon what will be popular. I've just had quite a few issues that I needed to get off my own chest as I am continuously figuring myself out. To be honest, there are a couple articles that I have written that have similar themes and qualities. I know that, and this one most likely will been seen as that as well, but I need to stay true to myself.

There's something I have noticed in the past few months about late-teen and early twenty year old kids; they do not care, they rely upon luck, and they are confused. We have so much potential. Being this young provides us with a future that is wide open to whatever we choose to make it. We can do what we want to do, be successful, be a great person, make a difference, be who we want to be, and be who we are supposed to be. We really can, because there is so much time in front of us. But we throw it all out. We act rash, do stupid stuff and slack off, and make bad decisions. We don't focus, we do not plan ahead, and we live in the present too often. I'm not talking about partying or just in general having fun, I'm truly not.

Oftentimes kids rely on an opportunity to strike them. This can prove to be exactly what you are looking for, yes, but I believe we wait for that one opportunity to come more than we should. It may never come, so we have to create our own. But we don't. Some do, and I see the motivation and passion in some people's eyes. There's a reason for this though; they love it.

We settle.

The world we live in is cruel and harsh and unforgiving. People are the same way. You have to find yourself, and discover your place on this planet. But you also have a say in what you want that place to be, it isn't anyone else's choice. You get to decide how you want your future to pan out.

So find something that you love, and let it kill you. Immerse your creative mind into your passion, chase your dreams and translate them into a career. You only live one life on this Earth, so why would you settle for a job you dread, or a lifestyle you do not fall in love with each and every day. You can do anything you set your mind to.

Recently, my best friend and I were having this same conversation, and he was trying to convince me to change my intended career path in order to suit my passion more applicably. To go with my gut and with what I love – writing. He told me not to try to fit in, and if worst comes to worse, you can always go get a regular job. But why not try? Why not give yourself the best opportunity to succeed and love your life as much as possible. He said something to me, and I'm not quite sure if he stole this quote from somewhere or not, but it really struck me in terms of significance. I really thought about what he said and what it truly means for me. With my life at the point that it is now, I think this is the perfect time to listen to his advice. Yes I may fail. Or come up short of what I envision, and it's risky. But his advice is one of the best I have ever received.

"Take a risk on yourself."