When I was five years old, I wanted to be a firefighter. When I was seven, I wanted to be an astronaut. When I was ten, I decided to be a doctor. Once I started high school, I didn't really know what I wanted to do. It wasn't until my senior year of high school that I decided to be a journalist because of my love for writing. What's the point in saying all of this?

One thing I'm realizing now is that things are always subject to change, especially the direction that we take with our lives. Sometimes change is seen as a bad thing, but I'm here to say we should start respecting what life has to offer to us. This isn't me saying you have to always be ready to change your life at any moment. This is me saying that many times we might feel like we're at a good place and suddenly we'll be moved into a completely different situation.

Many times we'll hate being in new, uncomfortable situations because naturally people want to be comfortable. Comfort-ability is fine, but many times in life you won't be comfortable. There will be times when you'll feel frustrated and not sure what to do next. I used to think uncertainty was a bad thing, but now I realize it's perfectly fine to not have every aspect of your life figured out. It may feel like life is this one big competition to see who can be the most successful, but I assure you it's not. It's obvious that we have the choice to choose how we want to live. When we start to compare our personal journey to the path of others, that's when we lose authenticity. You weren't born to be like everybody else. You weren't born to live by the standards or expectations others may have for you. There's nothing wrong with having a different definition of success than the other person.

I'm only eighteen, but for a big part of my life I believed I had to follow these specific guidelines on how to live my life. A lot of times I would get advice from friends and family on how to live; and although they may mean well, you should always make your own choices. I'm not encouraging you to be stubborn and never again accept any advice from another person. I am saying it's okay to take risks and follow your desires. I don't think life was meant to be this one specific experience. If it was, I don't think we would have the power to choose. Life has so many different avenues and so many places to get wisdom from. I'm encouraging everybody to start respecting your personal journey from now on. Respecting your personal journey means living your life for you and nobody else.

It means ignoring society's expectations and doing what you really want. It means accepting all the tragedy and turmoil and learning from it. It certainly means appreciating the lessons life has to give you. So whether you decide to go to college, or start that business you always really wanted to, or even travel the world, I really do encourage you to accomplish these things for number one: You.

I don't say this to sound arrogant or self centered. Respecting yourself and your wants is the most powerful act of self-love you can ever hope to do. In everything you do, consider if it's beneficial for your growth as an individual. If it's not, move on to the next chapter of your life. Furthermore, the biggest lesson I've learned is I'm responsible for the quality of my life. We're all responsible for the things we experience. I've decided to honor my journey and make it the best experience possible. I hope you all do the same.