With the current status of the nation’s election looking super unpredictable, I think every American can relate to the unsteady feeling when you don’t know the direction your country is going. It feels as though everyone is on different sides, parties have split up, we don’t know whether we will soon be going to war, or inviting more and more people into our country who could be pose a threat to our safety. We are confused, and every American seems to be feeling pretty unsteady; even those voting have minor hesitancies.

I know, going into my last year of college, that this is how a lot of soon-to-be graduating seniors feel about their own lives- unsteady, unprepared and unsure about almost everything.

I recall watching some of my older friends go through this same process last year. I sat with them through hard times of decision making, intense, tear-filled conversations, desperate soul-searching, sporadic travelling and praying with them for all the answers. I saw them take risks, move abroad, leave loved ones, and ultimately go out on a limb to pursue their dreams. I saw others move in with their parents, enroll in further schooling, or start working for their dad’s company.

All of these people last year felt so unsure, and they thought, prayed, talked to people and took the first step they felt was right. It truly was a year of questions for them, and I’m not sure if I’m prepared for that.

Senior year will be a season in life when we have more questions than answers, and that’s something I’m learning to be okay with. When I was younger, and I would get anxious about the future, my mom would always ask me, “Would you really want to know the future, even if you could, or would that take the beauty out of life?”. That really resonated with me, and from that day forward, I began to embrace the unknown. Why? Because honestly, seriously, it’s our only choice.

So much of our lives are planned out- our school schedule, work schedule, time to work out, time to hang out with friends is even scheduled to the minute. Being a part of a generation that always has a plan is challenging, especially when at the end of the day, we can’t control our lives as much as we trick ourselves into thinking we can.

With this being said, I write this to all seniors who are about to embark on the journey of the unknown which will contain moments of doubt--keep praying and thinking and embrace all the opportunities you have in front of you. At the end of the year, just make a choice to take one small step, and you will be okay. In fact, you’ll probably be great, and even if your plan doesn’t work out, you were meant to learn from that experience. Also, try not to worry so much about what others are doing, especially if their plan seems more exciting than yours--take the step that feels right, even if that is moving back home and looking for jobs, or going back to school. Lastly, learn to embrace this chapter of your life because it’s the beginning of you becoming who you were made to be.

Our lives are filled with uncertainty, and this is just the beginning of it, so though the tears, keep smiling because you’re on your way to a beautiful, incredible life.