As the spring semester of my sophomore year begins, I can't help but think about the new upcoming challenges and experiences that will come with it.

I think a lot about the person I want to become, and try to narrow down the paths available to get a clearer vision as to who that person will be.

Then I realized that this attempt at creating a better me with specific goals is impossible.

Many people wish to be, for example, a person that will live in New York City with a medium-sized apartment, a dog, married by 26 to the love of their life that they met in high school, and with a career locked down. They want a routine, a set lifestyle to enjoy 'til death do they part. Others wish to travel the world, starting with France, England and Italy and then moving to another continent. Marriage is out of the picture, and so is any possibility of having children.

I think it's awesome that people have dreams they wish to make come true, but I've never been that type of person. I've tried to picture my life different and grander than it is now, but I can't. I hear my friends talk about their dream lives and homes, and I try to do the same because that's what we're supposed to do, right? But when I try, all I can dream of is acing my classes next semester and being a teacher someday. I don't have a specific city I want to live in, I don't dream of traveling or marrying at a specific age. I don't dream to live a spectacular life.

I'm not saying to live in the now because I certainly don't think I do that. I worry over what will happen next in my life, my friendships, and my relationships. I think I just know that so much can change in a year, a week, a day, and even a minute. What's the use in trying to set something for yourself if those dreams are bound to change? I find myself loving things now that I never even knew existed a year ago. Going to college definitely exposed me to a brand new, eye-opening world for which I am grateful. I'm not saying I don't dream at all because that would be a complete lie. I try to imagine myself as an adult, teaching at some school and then coming home to my partner and children. But I can't.

It does scare me to think I can't see a future for myself. I know I'm going to be a teacher, and I'm going to absolutely love it. I just don't think that's the only thing I will be doing. I know I'll get married and have kids someday, I just don't have an idea when.

I guess what I'm trying to get at is that it's okay to not know where you want to be. It's frightening to hear people tell you the exact paths they wish to travel down and realize you don't even know where you want to be in five years.

If you feel like me, you'll learn to accept it, and enjoy it. Your friends are happy with their dreams, you are happy with the mystery. I'm more excited to experience life as it comes my way and to be surprised by its outcomes.