At 16 years old, I got my first tattoo and I received so much criticism because of it. I heard the oh-so popular question, “What if you regret it in 10 years? What will you do then?” or I was constantly reminded that tattoos are permanent as if I wasn’t aware of that when I had several needles going into my arm. I’ve always found it kind of funny that I was always told this but at the same time, I had college applications being shoved at me. I was being told at age 16 that I wasn’t old enough to know what I wanted to decorate my skin with but I was old enough to choose a job that I would do for the rest of my life.

At the time I didn’t really know colleges accepted “I don’t know” as an answer when they asked what you wanted to study. I had no idea I could go into college with an undeclared major and still take courses. Had I known that, I wouldn’t be in the situation I am. If it wasn’t for my lack of knowledge and being pushed by distant family members to know what I wanted to do, I wouldn’t be in the situation I’m in now. I have absolutely no clue what I want to do with my life.

The only two things I am sure of are I am a mother and my baby comes first and college is too expensive to not know what you want to do. This is why I’m transferring from my beautiful, wonderful, amazing, state college to a community college. The last thing I wanted to do when I found out I was expecting a little tiny person was drop out of school. I was, and still am, determined to do something with my life that won’t leave me wishing I had taken a different path.

I will admit that I am pretty stressed out about this whole process and this whole not knowing what I want to do thing but at least I will be paying about $4000 less to be stressed out. I am doing what is best for my family and that’s what matters.

This is important for high school juniors and seniors to know. It is important to know that you do not need to have your life figured out at age 16 or 17. It is perfectly okay to say “I don’t know” when someone asks what you’re going to school for. Don’t feel pressured into choosing a major just because that’s what everyone else is doing. Take some time figuring out what it is you really want to do before you settle on something you might not even enjoy. Explore your options.

It is also very important to remember that it is okay to change schools if that’s what you feel is best! Just because that’s the school all of your friends went to or the school that was what got you away from home doesn’t mean you have to stay there. This is your life and there’s nothing wrong with changing it around to make things easier and better for you. Do what makes you happy because college is too expensive to go somewhere you hate.