As 17-year-old, I know that many of the achievements I've made aren't necessarily the most expected ones. But I'm not going to lie — I'm proud of what I've achieved because it's exactly what I've worked for.

Most people expect me to work for a decent GPA, bag an internship or two, kick-ass on a test and pull myself together come college admissions day. But that's not what I want in my life.

I want to responsible for my choices, work as an entrepreneur and be as influential as possible. Trying to manage those typical expectations are, in my eyes, a waste of time. They don't help me reach the goals I'm trying to achieve.

To live free and well, I need to know the actual workforce much earlier. Then I can understand it earlier. I've got into a decent share of arguments in which I've been told to get a job. Or that I'm probably going to flop.

This is for those who think that life needs to be cookie cutter, who believe that taking risks is stupid and that people who do so are deadbeats.

Thinking that is idiotic. We don't live in a world where life can be divided into segments for everyone in the world.

Systematization was used to keep life from being even more chaotic, and that's not the case anymore. And if you think that trying to live a life like that is the only way to become successful, you're dead wrong.

Preaching what used to work back in the day doesn't change that. The world has changed.

Realistic merit, for even the brightest minds, is more important than the GPA. For most of us, nobody's going to give a shit about a GPA. That's because, thanks to the internet, most companies need to survive over maintain share — and that includes corporations. And a degree no longer is the only way to detect if someone is ready to work in the world. It's expensive, brought up by a flawed education, and doesn't ensure loyalty based on free will. And for the entrepreneurs that are going to be governing you- the flaws of a degree are too serious for someone to blindly require. You need to prove yourself first.

You're living a life of entitlement. You are not entitled to a good job, career or wealth because you did well in school. You just think you are. Life won't give you that anymore, and it's time to grow up and realize that. Otherwise, you'll live a life of unmanageable train wrecks you did not prepare for.

So while you laugh at the risk takers, working under the assumption that you're going to get something, everyone else is out there doing exactly what they need to live their lives to their peak expectations.

Either they're working for the 4.0 because they know that's exactly what they need to grow in their field, or they are developing themselves so that they can do what they love (sometimes both). And in this case, both of them have respect for the other. And unlike your scenario, in this case- the ones working hard in school will most definitely make it- because they know it's exactly what they need.

Keep telling them they won't make it. Keep telling me.

I'm not worried about how I'm going to be successful.

Unlike the haters, here's what the teen risk takers are up to: Some of them have meetings with executives on a weekly basis. Some of them are writers on amazing platforms. Some of them work on platforms that grow by the thousands. Some of them bag executive positions at startups. Some of them work with corporations and companies around the world or write speeches.

Some of them do all of the above. Some spend their time learning the art of the grind and come up with amazing ideas, ready for everything coming next like an eagle in the wind.

These risk takers are flying directly to the one percent. And they're learning enough so that when they fall, they know how to pick up their wings again. And they love the hustle of flying back up.

You really think they're going to flop with all of that REAL merit- you know- what a degree supposedly predicts?

The person who flops is the one that can't fight, so they spit aimlessly. The person who flops is the one who believes that the risk taker can't make it. The person that flops is the one who mindlessly hops onto the bandwagon. The person that flops is the one who won't care about the facts. The person who flops is the one who thinks his or her opinion is more important than the reality of the situation.

The person who flops is the one who lives a life expecting a reward — only to not get one because they wasted the time, while the risk takers they laughed at learned from failures. A risk taker can't expect anything- because things could go the wrong way. They just have to bounce back and shed the probability of it happening to them again. Eventually, the chance flips.

The risk takers they laughed at overtook them without a sweat, while they weren't even looking.

That's not to say working for a 4.0 is bad. It's not. If you know that it's actually needed for your career, or for the ones that don't need one- you want to go to a good college to grow and network, and not aim for a degree, but to grow yourself first.

You know what is bad? Aimlessly working for the 4.0. Thinking that risk takers won't make it. Thinking that the 4.0 will lead to a great future and is the best path for everyone. Wrong.

The world has changed. Throw those assumptions out the window. Otherwise, don't be surprised if the giant that is true merit eats you up.

Oh, and don't worry about me. I know I've got the merit to flip my chances eventually. I've got my share of achievements. Some of them were listed here, and personally, they feel more rewarding to me than a good grade ever has. So I'll chase them instead.