In high school, our teachers always tell us how important it is to go to college right after we graduate. They also make it seem like we need to have our whole lives figured out at the mere age of 18. How can they expect that of us? Sure, they have us take personality tests and interest tests to see what kind of careers might work for us, but how many of us actually stick to that initial plan?

I can tell you that I have not stuck to that plan. When I was younger, I always wanted to be an author. I wrote stories and poetry and other creative writing, and this was my plan for almost six years. Until one day, I ran into a wall, and I wasn't able to knock this wall down for almost three years. It was at this point that I realized this wasn't a reliable plan, so I needed a backup!

Decisions, Decisions

A lot of people have this problem, believe it or not. In this day and age, most people make it seem like we have to have our whole lives figured out by the time we start college that next fall. Only months earlier we had to ask permission to go to the bathroom and get permission slips signed to go on field trips. It's crazy to think that we could possibly have everything figured out for ourselves when we are so used to having everything planned out for us. What classes we'll take, what events we can go to—so how can we decide what to do for the rest of our lives within months?

I am here to tell you that you can't. Because of this societal expectation, I realized weeks before I started college that I had to make a choice. What to major in? What did I want to do with the rest of my life? There were infinite possibilities, and since I had decided that I couldn't be an author, I chose something that was a bit more familiar: education.

Finally Having it Figured Out...or Not

My uncle was a kindergarten teacher and my aunt was a middle school teacher, so I had some familiarity with it. I wasn't entirely sure that was what I wanted to do with my life, but my family seemed to think it was a good idea—I mean, what's not to love about summers off, right?

I realized not even a semester later that teaching was not for me, and I switched to psychology. I'll admit it, one of the only reasons that I chose psychology as my next major is because it seems like a stereotypical girl's major right now. Also, I was and am that friend that everyone goes to with their problems. That next semester, my dad told me two things: he didn't think I realized just how difficult some problems would be to handle, and that I should harness my abilities in most people's least favorite subject, math.

I refused to give up psychology, so I decided to double major in math and psychology. Then, a year later, I took psychology research methods, and I bet anyone could guess what happened with that if they are reading this article. I decided to drop that psychology major and just major in math, and then it hit me.

The Change of Heart

Right now, sitting here writing this article, in my sophomore year of college and only 19 years old, I have realized more than what I think most adults have: It's not about the money, or what people think about your career choice, or even what other people want you to do. I officially decided on my mathematics major because it's what I like to do and it comes easily to me.

My main point is, despite what people say, it's completely OK to not have figured out what you're going to do with the next 50 years of your life by the time you graduate from high school. It doesn't even matter if you know by the end of your sophomore year of college. You have plenty of time, and you can either spend it in a career that you hate, or you can spend it exploring and experiencing new avenues on your road to success!