In today's society at the ripe age of 17 years old, we are faced with the haunting question:

What do you want to become when you grow up?

For many, the answer is a journey. People will follow their passions and attend a university or obtain the job of their dreams after high school. For some, this process may be more difficult- causing them to change majors multiple times in order to discover their true passions.

For me, the choice was simple. In fact, I've been sure of what I wanted to be since junior year of high school-- a decision that would cause me to face much judgement from people, simply because I chose a white-collar career.

On the surface I was another adolescent chasing her dreams--I wanted to become a doctor. But my motivation on why I wanted to follow this career path, was way deeper than the shallow reasoning most people assumed followed my desire to work in the medical field.

Today, I feel apprehensive to tell people this. I feel as if many reply with these usual questions:

So, you want to make a lot of money?

You do not want to have a family?

You realize how long you will be in school, right?

Do you even know how difficult it is to work in that field?

This stigma is highly overlooked, and upsets me for many reasons:

I am not motivated by greed. Though it is good to have a decent career to support a decent lifestyle, I did not choose my career path merely by the salary value.

I can balance having a family with my career, and I will. My family has been and always will be one of my priorities- with time management you can manage the things in your life that you love and prioritize.

I'm prepared for the many years of school- to achieve any degree, this is a commitment you must make and be determined to keep to work in a field that you are truly passionate about.

I know how difficult and demanding the medical field is. Rightfully so, the field trains you to be able to handle the lives of those around you. The field trains you to be what separates a person's life from their grave. To cure sickness and heal others is a demanding, thorough, gratifying profession.

So please, stop this stigma. Some of us are motivated by the passion, experience, and love for the field in which we are studying- even if it is a white collar job.

To everyone pursuing their passions for their fields- keep going, and reach for the stars.