I have always been the type of person who likes to have everything planned out. I like to have a set schedule so I know how my time is being spent so I can make the most of it. But, am I really making the most of it if it is already written in stone for me? Most likely, no, and it has taken some time for me to realize this.

I am 20 years, old my friends and by the time you are reading this, I will have graduated from college and have earned a B.A. in Psychology (yes, the BA stands for bad-ass by the way lol). I have been in school for around 17 years now non-stop, so naturally my body just wants to keep going on to graduate school. My plan is to eventually attend graduate school, but our lives and futures seem like they are already planned out for us. We are supposed to go to school so we can get a stable job to support ourselves, we are supposed to be married at a certain time, we are supposed to start a family at a certain age, and the list goes on.

However, even though it has taken me about 20 years to comprehend this, it is perfectly OKAY to take time for yourself to relax and do whatever the hell you want to do with your life. We all only get one life to live, so we might as well live it the way we want to and do the things we love while we are young. Instead of doing everything that is expected of us all the time, we all need to start doing the things we want. That doesn't mean you shouldn't go to college to pursue a career, but it means you should do it only because you want to and believe it will benefit you personally.

I know that I had planned to attend graduate school right after my undergraduate career was complete, just because I figured I would keep going on. Then I received letters from the colleges I applied to that did not accept me into their programs. Initially, I was crushed and heartbroken. I had no idea what I was going to do, but then it hit me, everything happens for a reason.

I have to remind myself that I am 20 years old and I have been working my ass off for so long now that I forget that I deserve a break. I can take time off for myself to go explore the beautiful world we live in and to abolish what the world expects of me to be doing right now. It is okay not to do what everyone else is doing with their lives. You are your own person, so you should live your life that way instead of following what other people are doing.

As I mentioned, everything happens for a reason, at least in my opinion it does. I know there is a plan already thought out for me, so now it is my turn to take control of my life and do what I want and live my life to my standards. I hope this inspires you to do the same and to stop yourself from trying to fit in with everyone else and simply take time to pursue what you want in this one precious life you have to live.