One of the hardest parts of being in college is balancing what you want for your life compared to what your parents want for you. Recently I was put in a situation where I was offered an internship that would lead me down the exact career path I wanted. The only stipulation? Pushing off my graduation a semester and losing scholarship money.

My parents really wanted me to take it anyway, and the benefits of it showed for itself. Ultimately, the decision would be mine and it was my first "adult" decision to be made. When I went to write the email that I was accepting, I felt this pit in my stomach. I knew that was not what I wanted during this time. When I told my parents, I could tell they were hoping I chose otherwise, but regardless they respected my choice.

This moment was hard because, for the first time in my life, I was choosing what I wanted rather than what my parents wanted for me. And it was not easy.

But at the end of the day, only you truly know what you want for yourself and what is going to make you happy. Nobody else. To me, I wanted to use the scholarship money I worked hard to earn and graduate in the Spring. It did not seem right to trade my happiness in when either outcome will still get me to great opportunities just in different ways.

For a lot of people, it's hard not doing what your parents expect of you. They work so hard to give you the great life you have, and you always want to make them proud. But they will be proud if you stand strong and keep working hard. You will not ever agree with anyone, including your parents, 100 percent of the time. You can only make decisions that are true to what you feel and believe and hope for the best.