What do you want to be when you grow up? I think I was four or five the first time someone asked me this question. Of course, I probably gave an answer like the President of The United States or an astronaut. That's what every little kid dreams of being. But, when asked this three years later and then again five years later, I answered with saying I wanted to be a doctor or a teacher. There is not one person who goes ahead in life doing exactly what they said they wanted to do at the age of five. Most people probably don't even go on to do what they said they wanted to do at the age of 18.
As a toddler, you believe you can accomplish anything. So, you say you want to be the President of the United States or an astronaut. You believe you can walk across the moon or run the country, so that's what you want to do. At the young age of five, when you believe you can do this, you also think it's a possibility 20 years from now.
You're now seven years old and come to the realization that you probably can't run an entire country. You aren't really sure what politics are, but you already don't like them. But, you do love animals, so you decide being a veterinarian is a good new option. You love dogs and cats and all kinds of different pets, so why not work with them every day for a living? That would be the ultimate dream job! At least, it was before you realized you have to put some of them down, which is basically killing them. Dream job crushed.
At 11 years old, probably about fifth or sixth grade, you spend more time with your teachers and homework than you actually do with your parents at this point. Becoming a vet didn't exactly work out, so you've chosen a new career path. Education. You love all of your teachers and look up to them as second parents, so why not become one? You could definitely see yourself standing in front of a chalkboard, cracking corny jokes and teaching all your little students. Teaching it is!
You're now beginning your high school career, about 15. What you want to do with your life doesn't even matter right now, it's high school. You're old, but not too old, you're cool, and out of that lame middle school with all the little kids. All you care about are your social life, boys and whatever sport you are currently playing. College and your future are so far away. You still have four more years to decide, plenty of time!
But, in a blink of an eye, it's graduation day. You're standing out on the football field, looking up at everyone's family and friends realizing this is the last time you'll be a student at this school. You got into your dream college, chose a major that you really think fits you well, maybe biology or nursing, and you're ready to go in the next three months. You throw your cap up in the air, turn and hug all your friends before realizing that these people won't be around you much longer. You have a bright future ahead of you and nothing can stop you now.
So when asked again after graduation, What do you want to be when you grow up? For the first time... you might actually know.
At 20 years old, your second year in college and you've realized you made it halfway through, barely, but made it. You've made a ton of friends, maybe even joined some type of organization, but your major isn't really all you wanted it to be. You like it, but you don't love it. So, when it comes to picking your junior year schedule you say "screw it" and decide to change your major. People scold you for this and say you're making a horrible decision and that you'll never graduate, but you will. You finally choose a major you like and stick with it.
The truth is, no one really knows where they are going in life, but I promise, you are going somewhere. You may not know at 10, 18 or even 25 years old, but you will eventually figure it out. There are those select few that have a dream set at a young age and stick with it, but that doesn't go for everyone. Getting asked this question year after year while you're growing up becomes worse and worse. It's something that I still dread because I still don't know, and that's okay.
You're young, you have plenty of time to work and live a real hardworking life, but for now, enjoy yourself. Don't stress on what college you may or may not get into or what job you'll get after college. Live the days you are living now, the rest will just come to you.
Don't worry, you are going somewhere.