As college students, we’ve all heard it so many times before; whether it came out of the mouth of a relative during a holiday dinner, or from another student trying to hit on us at some random bar, date function, or house party. It comes in many forms and variations, such as, “Oh, your major is (insert controversial major here)? What do you plan to do with that?” or “What career are you trying to get into with that?” or even one of the most obnoxious forms, “How do you plan to make money doing that?” Every time one of these questions is asked, we have a miniature panic attack, our brains frantically searching for an answer that makes it seem like we might actually have our lives together, but we know that it’s a complete lie. We can’t even figure out how to do laundry properly; how are we supposed figure out what do with the rest of our lives in the fraction of a second?

After hearing this question so many times, I recently decided to do some serious introspection to figure out what my answer should be. That way, I’d be prepared the next time someone decides to launch it towards my ear canals. I grabbed a notepad and one of my best pens from my desk, sat on my bed, and started scribbling down my thoughts. I spent about three or four hours sitting there, writing on my notepad, listening to “2014 Forest Hills Drive” by J. Cole on repeat, banging my head into the wall of my room, shoving multiple pieces of gum into my mouth and chewing them furiously to see if it would improve my thought process. Then, I found it. It was perfect.

So, what’s my answer, you ask?

I don’t have one.

One of the greatest lies we teach ourselves in college is that the major we choose will define our entire future, including our career path. Some students don’t have a problem with this; they are completely passionate about one thing and plan to pursue that to the fullest extent. Good for them. But, for a large number of us, including myself, it isn’t that simple. There are a great many things that I feel passionate about; far too many to just choose one. I love science, nature, and the many intricate processes that make up the vast expanse of our universe. I love reading and writing, and how I can create an entirely new reality with the power of my mind and, usually, Microsoft word, although I prefer paper and a pen. I love children and teaching them about the amazing world we live in. I love making people laugh, both at me and with me. I love exploring different types of music and learning about different musical instruments. I love art and being able to express how I feel or what I love with ball of clay, a pencil and paper, or a camera. I love many other things as well, too many to include in this article. Each of these things is an equal part of my identity. I can’t bring myself to choose just one and forget about the rest.

To further clarify this, let’s talk about boxes. I’ve realized that one of my biggest fears, and one that I think I have in common with a lot of people, is being put into a “box.” I don’t want to be known for only one thing, or to be good at only one thing, because I know I’m capable of so much more. Unfortunately, given the way our society is structured, being put into a “box” is nearly inescapable. We put other people into boxes every day, whether those boxes are names and titles, hasty evaluations of character, or generalizations about an entire group of people. “Boxes” are usually not the most respectful thing to do to another human being, but we like to do it because boxes are neat, tidy, and organized. Once you put everything in a box, it’s not messy anymore. We even put ourselves into boxes, perhaps to save ourselves the trouble of trying to figure out the mind-numbingly confusing thing that is our personal identity. However, the problem with putting ourselves and others into “boxes,” is that it puts a limit on who we are and what we can do. It robs us, I believe, of the complexities of our personalities, interests, and everything that makes us unique. Why would we ever want to do that?

The next time someone asks you the question, “What are you going to do after you graduate?” or “What are you going to do with your life?” you don’t have to give them an answer. Whether it’s intentional or not, and most of the time it’s not, they’re attempting to put you into a box. Now, if you’re the kind of person that likes to be put in boxes, either literally or metaphorically, you’re more than welcome to explain your five-part plan for your future. I applaud you for your ability to find direction in this chaotic mess called life. But, for the people like myself, don’t panic. It’s okay to say, “I don’t know.” Remind yourself that you are not capable of being defined by a single person or thing in your life. You’re so much more complex than that. Pursue the things that you love, the things that make to you want to jump out of bed in the morning and squeal like a little kid during Christmas. And don’t worry about all the questions and the people who doubt you. Life always has a way of figuring itself out.