Everyone goes through awkward middle points in their lives, from becoming an adult and graduating high school, or the awkward time between college and getting your career. It’s the uncomfortable in-between stage that no one sees coming, the gray area in life that’s undefined because it has no definition, other than to be in the middle. It serves the purpose of bridging the gap between life changes. Most have witnessed firsthand that during all of that, it’s so easy to feel lost.

As someone who is currently experiencing a rather different “middle”, I understand and I am here to say you’re not alone. I left college to pursue a trade career, and it was the best decision I’ve ever made, but here again I end up in the middle. Being in the middle, has its own feeling of empty, of confusion, and of uselessness that comes along with it. It’s easy to feel like it’s just you, everyone’s moving and you’re just stagnant. You’re not quite where your started, but you feel so far from where you want to be.

Being in the in-between has brought forward so many emotions and parts of me that I’ve never acknowledged before. When I decided to leave college, the reactions from some of the people that surrounded me were so disheartening. These were people I cared for and their opinions mattered to me and it felt like I let them down. This is where I met my anxiety, the kind that makes you over think and lose your mind due to impatience. And of course, I felt hurt, I felt like I must have been making the wrong decision if all of these people were disappointed in me, right? That’s where the middle is harder for some than others.

As much as we don’t want to face it or even acknowledge it, the middle is so necessary. That is where you find, YOU. You find out what you're made of, you find out how strong you are, and you find your limits. These are staples in growing up and are crucial to a happy life. It's these changes that truly will mold us into the kind of person we will be proud of, because you accomplished something good for yourself and moved forward.

While most are oblivious to the middle stages of life, they are incredibly necessary to make us who we are. Unfortunately, this is where we lose most young people. The middle is such a vulnerable time for anyone, especially kids. It’s confusing sometimes, and it’s so easy to get lost. It’s important to keep pushing, moving towards your goal because you’re in the middle for a reason. You had a goal and you took steps to get there, so follow through. Accomplish something because you’ve already started, and after “the middle” isn’t the end… it’s a whole new beginning.