College has recently had me thinking about the future. It is a month into school and I still have not desired to fall into the "party stage" of college, which I will admit that I am perfectly fine with. Most people my age are thinking about the future, relating it to what job will make them the most money when they graduate from college. Unlike those peers of mine, I look forward to the future, outside of a job that pays well. I look forward to having a family of my own.

I have always been very maternal. I grew up taking care of the babies my mother watched from home. Taking care of kids is second nature to me; It is all I know. Many people would be surprised as to how many of my friends refer to me as "Mom," I have even been called "Campus Mom," quite a few times since being in college. You wouldn't believe how many "Happy Mother's Day," texts I got a few months ago.

To some, this would be upsetting. Yet, I love it. I have always known in my heart that God put me on this Earth to have me be a mother. Whether I will have the opportunity to carry my own children or not, God has already proven that I am a mother. Since I was little, I have always been looking forward to the day I was finally old enough to start my own family. Now that I am 18, it has me critically thinking about life as it is right now.

Last week radio host, Adam Ritz came and spoke to athletes and Greek life here on campus. He spoke on numerous topics regarding decisions made in college, but the one thing that stood out to me is that we should live for the future.

I took a lot away from his speech. Living for the future can be related to numerous aspects of life. Yet, I found it easy to relate it back to one central topic: family.

I have done self-assessing and realized that every action and decision that I make will effect my future family. If I ever make a poor choice, it could very well come back to haunt my future children. I do not want to have to dread having a conversation with my children at some point to explain mistakes I have made.

I have promised myself that I will forever live for later. With every decision I make, I will strive to have it be one to make myself proud, as well as my future husband and kids. I am not perfect, everyone is bound to make mistakes at some point. But I won't let those mistakes hold me down.

Your actions now, will stay with you for the rest of your life. Good, or bad. Just like social media, decisions will never disappear. Live to make your future self proud. This doesn't mean that you have to stay in your house all day, doing nothing but homework. Go out, have fun, make memories!

From this day forward, I promise to live for later, and I challenge you to do the same.