College. It is a time of eating Ramen noodles on the daily and mastering the skill of writing eight-page papers overnight. It is one of the most stressful yet fun times of our lives. It is a time where we don’t have our parents telling us what to do 24/7, but our teachers don’t remind us constantly of due dates because we are supposed to be responsible. I cannot even describe college to you without mentioning times where I was completely lost. Not physically lost, but lost as in I have no idea what to expect for the future. What we don’t realize is that college is a blessing. Not everyone has a chance to experience college, and we are very fortunate to even attend. I am here to tell you that it is okay to be unsure; you are not the only one.

There are two subjects that I want to hit that most people talk about, first is their job. This is the sole reason we are in college, in order to prepare us for the real world. Not everyone is clear on what they want to do for the rest of their lives when they begin college. We go into majors that will eventually drive us insane. Some are fortunate enough to stay in the same major throughout their college career. We want to have jobs that make enough money but also ones that we are passionate about. There are times when we are graduating with some sort of degree but do not know the exact job we want to go after. This is absolutely okay. Why? Because it is okay to not be sure. Explore different areas of that subject and put all your energy towards that. Everyone is going to have more than one job in his or her lifetime. You will find out what fits you best and be glad that you were ambitious in what you do. You may be surprised where that may lead you because you can take a completely different path than you expected. You have to be actively working toward your goal. Jobs do not just appear left and right when you get out of school. If you continue to be enthusiastic and ambitious, I promise you that you will find the job for you.

Now for the second subject, one that we think about but is not our upmost priority. Relationships. First things first, love yourself. The path you take will have its heartbreaks and happy moments. Never ever let someone define who you are and question your worth. Believe in yourself and the person who you are with should do the same. That person should encourage you and push you to be a better person. Love is not magic and fairytales. Through college, we are told that this is the time you find your soul mate. This is the time to go out and experiment with different people. You should not have the mindset of finding the person who you are going to marry. Learn how to be honest with yourself and others. Don’t hold grudges and forgive easily. Don’t forget to love your family. College will be a time where you either begin to grow further and further apart from your parents or a time that you miss them being a part of your everyday life. Your parents will not always be around. They have gone through the same phases as you are going through. Ask them questions; they will probably surprise you on advice and past stories. As you begin to figure out your life, don’t forget about the people who raised you.

The next couple of years after college will be a little bumpy. You will be self-conscious in the fact that you might not have chosen the right major or you might be in a relationship that makes you look down on yourself. Whatever it is, don’t ever compare yourself to others. Your friends may seem more successful or know what they are doing, but honestly, they are just as unsure as you are. Surround yourself with positive people, and do not waste your time on things that will put you in the wrong direction. Use your time wisely, and your life will eventually play out in a good way.