I'm sure by now you've hear the do's and don'ts. "Don't get caught up on the present, focus on your future, it's more important than you think." or how about "Why do you hang out with them, they are holding you down?". Oh boy, this one was my favorite "Don't chase a girl and discard your plans.". I don't know you, I don't have a biased interest in your future financial status or your living standard. I don't even have an interest in telling you what to do and what not do. This is your life, and the next year is gonna be full on choices that will undeniably be some of the most important choices you will make.

This is my first word of advice and most definitely the most important. Listen to what your heart tells you. I had external pressures and I can imagine so do you, do not let them influence the choices you will make. I'm gonna take a shot in the dark here...you have parents. Genius right? I prefer the term down and out right freaking brilliant but there is room to play there. Not everything they tell you is the best for your future. Choices are subjective. If it there was a clear path to take, what would be so hard about it. If there wasn't alternatives and variations to whats "right", then why would it even be a choice. Your parents recommendations and guidance is usually smart and makes a lot of sense don't get me wrong, but some choice are personal, only you know whats right. Would you let another person call the shots on your happiness? There's not just parents at play here, there is teachers, friends, girlfriends, boyfriends, and when push comes to shove, the only person that can tell what is "right" for you is you.

Next up to bat, the good old "Forget about them, focus on you" mindset. Here's what you do...wait wait wait, were you just expecting an answer and guidance after I just told you these choices are subjective and different for each person? Think again, like I said, I have no bias in your life choices. However, I can tell you what to take away from that message. This is for you to evaluate. Are your friends worth potentially leaving behind in order to better your career? Imagine yourself for all that you think you are worth. You've already accomplished what you need to and the road that brought you there is embedded in your mind. Are your friends on that road, or did they get out of the car to "pick up from their guy" or maybe they stayed home because that is all they do. If your seriously questioning the integrity of your friends and are wondering that they can be replaced, then maybe you should consider putting some distance in between you and those friends. However, you if cannot fathom life without them, then maybe there are alternatives. Now this is where I saw the light in a dark and depressing situation. I found myself in the situation where I didn't and still never do want to lose the friends I grew up with. There is no doubt in my mind the integrity of everyone of those friends I grew up with and I hope I get to call them friends till the day I die, but I left. There are ways to make it work. If those friends are as good as you believe them to be, they will still be there when you return. I did not "leave" but I relocated, they are different things, and you must also consider every option and variable subjectively.

Next up is the significant other, this goes hand and hand to what I previously said. They will be there and stay loyal if it is meant to be. Here is where it gets tricky, do what your heart is telling you to do. In your heart, your morals are unique and your goals are different then your mothers and fathers. Your fathers goal could have been to live rather well with a six figure salary and toys at hand, in which case making the hard decision to leave would be clear. Then again, your mother could have the goal to simply be content with the people in her life and to be engulfed in love. It's all personal, and nobody can understand whats "right" and what is "wrong" without being the person with the hard choice at hand. I can not tell you to follow your significant other across the country or the contrary. This is you're life. Either option could be the better, it all depends on you. The most important thing to remember is it is not black and white. Try to make it work. If it is meant to be then loyalty will not be questioned. If trust is broken, then the dedication was not as strong as you both presumed. Life is kind of just a ton of mistakes until you learn that spinning the lever on the jack in the box will just result in you crapping you pants, so you learn to leave it alone or maybe pick up a different toy.

Then there is your major. It is kind of ridiculous to think that you are forced to choose the career path you must take when your 18 years old. How the hell are we supposed to decide the rest of our lives when we are 18. When I was 18, I couldn't figure out what pair of socks to wear. I still don't know what pair of socks to wear and it's just socks. Do not stress over this, perhaps you really do know what you will do 40 years from now as a career but chances are, you will change your major once or twice...or three times. The best advice I can give is do what makes you happy but puts food on the table. You want to find a balance between the two. However that is not what is "right", for you it could be completely different. Don't stress and when in doubt, choose a school that has a plethora of majors to switch to.

Bottom line is that only you hold the pen. Only you know what is the choice to make. Do not let others influence your choices for they do not have to deal with the repercussions that you will. Your wrongs will not haunt them but you. Do what your heart says. I leave you with this, life is a big game of trial and error, you live, you fail, you learn, you fail again, and your learn even more. If it wasn't that way then nothing would be worth it. What is life without mistake and leaps of faith? Don't be afraid to take those leaps of faith, just be certain it was a leap rather then a push.