People all over the world are pressured to do what is “normal,” to fit in with everyone else. The only problem is, this “normal” is never defined for us and is different for everyone. There is not a roadmap that each person must follow throughout their lives. In this article, I have decided to write about doing what you feel is best for you rather than feeling pressured to do what society expects of you. I think this is especially significant for college-aged people.
How many times do you think a high school junior or senior is asked where they plan to go to college, or what they want to do when they grow up? How about the follow-up questions of SAT scores or job applications? People have good intentions, but it becomes overwhelming when you are asked the same questions over and over again.
I am currently on my second semester off from college. I took the first semester off because I was struggling with depression and anxiety. Leaving school wasn’t an easy decision, but my depression became so severe that I really had no choice. The second semester was similar, except I was actually hospitalized for three weeks and then diagnosed as bipolar. As you can see, this caused me to reevaluate my plans again. There was a lot of guilt and shame about leaving school at the time, but looking back on it I realize it was the very best thing I could have done. As I continue to work on my health, I am again faced with the decision of whether or not I am going to return to school in January. I have benefitted from being home with my family as I continue on my journey to recovery. However, I still feel the pressures that society forces on us, especially when people ask me why I’m home and not at school.
Life is full of so many options and decisions that we are presented with on a daily basis. Grouping all people together and assuming that everyone will follow the same path in life is both unhelpful and unhealthy, as each person is unique and has different needs and requirements.
Be true to yourself! Follow your heart, stay on the path that’s right for you, or pave a new one. Life is a journey and sometimes we take the scenic route, but even a detour takes us to the same destination eventually.
