I go to a pretty artsy school. That's a bit of an understatement, actually. I swear, my freshmen class is more talented and full of more potential in the art and entertainment industry than most colleges have combined. I’m serious—I’m going to school now with kids that have already directed feature length films, that have a YouTube following or that have written for a million different publications (OK, that last one was exaggerated a bit, but you get the point).

In my high school, there was always a few kids that everyone knew would make it someday. I happened to be one of those kids, and I thought leaving home for Emerson College was step one in my path towards my destined greatness—that sounds so pretentious now that it makes me sick. But my point is that coming here surrounded by much more greatness and potential than ever before has made me very aware of myself, of others, and has stirred up doubt in myself in more ways than one.

For example, I’m majoring in journalism. That’s no where near as exciting as the kid that’s majoring in theater or film production or writing for television. Who would you rather talk to at a party: the journalism major who has no idea what she wants to do, or that actress that starred in a commercial with Insert-Celebrity-Name-Here?

Coming from a school system where I had worked hard to stand out and where it was so easy to get involved, I'm warning you now: college is very different. It's no longer a competition vying for the top spot among the top 30 or so kids in your graduating class to see who can participate in the most clubs, be the captain or president of the most things or get into the most schools with the best grades. Come Fall 2016, you will be surrounded by people just like you: people who were also at the top of their class, who like to learn, who were class presidents or captains of the baseball team or the founders of those clubs at their respective high schools. You will be surrounded by future doctors and lawyers and artists and other people who feel just as destined for greatness as you do, and you are going to sit back and think Wow. I have no idea what I'm doing.

You might even be thinking that now, as you prepare for life beyond the comfort of high school.

Everyone is going to feel like this at one point or another. It’s OK if you’re doubting yourself or if things are different than high school or if you’re unsure if you ready for this next step. Everyone has these doubts and these doubts are good. They cause many of us to act on them—to push themselves to work harder, to be who we want to be, to join more clubs, get more involved. Sometimes they get us to accept second place—and that’s OK too, but that still shouldn't stop you from going out of your comfort zone.

Find something that interests you and work on it. Hone in on your skills and talents that make you, you. Craft your character to be who you want to be. Doubting yourself is normal.

Now, go and do something about it.