"I don't know what I want and what's funny is, how everyone might seem as if they have it all figured out, but in all truth, they don't. And like you, someone, too, might see you and think "there goes a person who has their life together, who knows exactly where they're going," but in all aspects, it's madness. Everyone thinks they know what they want but the problem is, they don't know how to get it for themselves." -- R.M. Drake

Lost. That is how I felt not too long ago.

After graduating high school about three and a half years ago, I realized how right my teachers were - college was nothing like high school. I learned that pretty quickly and what seemed like all at once. My grades in college were good, but my grades in high school had been outstanding. After my pre-requisites were done I had applied to the Nursing program. I was denied. I took more classes and was denied again. And again. I learned that it was due to retaking a core class. That made me incompetent in their eyes. I grew frustrated and transferred to another school and chose a different major - Paramedic Technology. After one semester I quickly realized that this is not what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I wanted to be a nurse. More than anything, I wanted to be a nurse. So, I took a semester off and began applying to schools. I was denied over and over again. The one retake hanging over my head like a cloud full of rain. I can proudly sit here today and say that I got into nursing school. In just a couple months I will be starting my journey.

My point is, things happen. We constantly compare ourselves to others. We are looking for approval when truthfully, we do not need it. We were born to be individuals. Everyone graduates high school thinking that in exactly 4 years they will have a degree and start working. For some, that is what will happen, but for others, it could increase and curve and be anything other than "normal". And in all honesty, that is perfectly okay. You are born with your own path in this world. And you will get to it however you choose. It doesn't matter if it takes you five years or even 10. A number is just a number. What matters most is if you are happy - if you are happy with yourself and your choices. And if you aren't? You always have time to do better, to work harder. We as human beings, are unstoppable. We have the whole world in front of us. It's our choices that will get us to where we want to be.

I am living proof of it. For the longest time, I didn't think I was going anywhere in life. I questioned why it was so easy for some people yet so difficult for me. I gave up on myself. After a while I stopped believing that I would ever get there.

Lost. I was lost. I felt it everyday.

But here I am. I am now a nursing student. A future nurse. How beautiful those words are and how completely happy it makes me. It may have taken me longer than others, but I am still going to get there.

Pretty girl, pick up your head and breathe. Tomorrow is a new day and you have the whole world in front of you. You will become someone, something. But you need to believe it too. Never give up. Success is coming your way.