As a 20-year-old who is still in college, I have done pretty well mapping out my future. Many young adults my age have no idea what they want to do for the rest of their life.
I blame society, as we push high school seniors to make a decision quickly when they should have exposure and information on the options available to them. I remember being a high school senior and never thinking of trade school or of getting a job in a field I had interest in. In my mind, if I did not go to college I would never have a job and no one would ever hire me without a degree.
The truth is, there are many other options besides college, and even now I sometimes wonder what my life would be like if I did not go to college.
When it came time for me to leave high school and go to college, I managed to get into my dream school and get into the program I wanted to specialize in. Since I had an idea of what I wanted to do when I went to college, I was able to dive right into my major and speed up the process because I was not jumping around from major to major. After my freshman year, I was able to work for a Congressman as well as a major corporation, and now I am on track to graduate early. I am extremely happy with all that I have accomplished so far in my college career, but I still have moments when I doubt myself and my future.
Something I heard constantly was how much graduating early is going to benefit me and how much money I am going to save by pushing myself. I am ready to graduate and see where my future will take me but if I think about it too long, I find a sense of panic as if I messed up.
Are my dreams too big? Is it unrealistic for me to think that with my degree I will be able to find a position of power? What if this is not what I want to do in 20 years? These are some of the thoughts that creep into my mind when thinking about my future. Sure, I've got a plan, but that doesn't mean my life will follow it to a T.
We all have doubts as humans and I believe it is normal to feel this way, especially when facing yet another milestone change in life. I have accepted the fact that these doubts will follow me, but I won't let them stop me from hoping for a bright future. It's hard not to know what the future will hold and how to plan for it in the present.
No matter what happens, it will be for the best and while I might not see it in the moment, I know I will realize it someday. The key I have learned to deal with doubts about the future is to tune out what everyone else says and to follow your heart. Don't over think it because you chose this path for a reason and you need to remember why you picked this path in the first place.
Remember, the future is always changing and you can make mistakes and fail as a person in their twenties. Learn from those mistakes and keep fighting for what you want in life and for your future.
