Growing up is a scam.
Now that I'm a sophomore in college, I truly realize how overwhelming and confusing this time in our lives is. When you're making the transition from high school to college, you don't really realize what you're getting yourself into. You have an idea of what you want to do in the future, but you probably don't have a set plan (unless you've really got your shit together...if you're one of these people, I applaud you). But nevertheless, you have to apply to colleges and declare a major and then you're forced to hit the ground running.
Deciding what you want to do with the rest of your life as a teenager is completely unfair. Don't argue with me on this... how are we supposed to pick our fate, when we don't even know what the world has to offer us yet??? Teenagers are allowed to enlist in the military but aren't even allowed to enjoy an alcoholic beverage... and yet we have to make the single most important decision of our lives at a time when we still have to raise our hands to ask to use the bathroom.
I'm now in my first semester of my sophomore year of college, and I'm starting to second-guess myself. I have declared Public Relations as my major, and hope to one day get a career in the communications industry. Basically, I have many interests, including social media marketing, event planning, business administration, visual communication, etc. I chose this major because I felt that I would have a good outlook on finding a job after college.
Even though I enjoy my major, I still find myself comparing my path to everyone else around me. Somehow I feel like I'm not smart enough or involved enough or have enough things on my resume. But how in any way is this healthy? I'm only 19 years old and I'm making myself sick over the thought of my future.
I'm now making it a point to reassure myself that I'm on the right path for ME. I need to learn to get out of my own head and make sure I'm taking care of myself because everything will work out in the end. Self-care, deep breaths and mental planning are key for figuring things out. Every day I will tell myself the following: You are smart, you are competent, you will find a job, you will be happy, you will make your parents proud.
If you're reading this and need a little reassurance that you're on the right path: You are smart, you are competent, you will find a job, you will be happy, you will make your parents proud. I believe in you. Go be a teenager and worry about finding an internship later. I promise it will all work itself out.