In less than a week, I end my journey as a teenager. These last seven years have included middle school, high school and now college (and plenty in between). I’ve come to realize that while I might be a little nervous about taking these next steps, I’m ready to move forward, and I’m ready to do that now.

To me, going from a teenager to a young man means stepping up. It means being responsible and taking responsibility. Now is not the time for blame or attitude, its time for hard work and action. I have always been comfortable with this, but I realize that this must become a necessity rather than just another option. My future is in my hands; that’s the way I’ve always wanted it. However, I can’t just dream of what I want my life to bring, I need to reach down deep inside of me and make that happen. Now is not the time for dreaming, it’s time for making those dreams a reality.

Someone once told me that it’s better to take 50 small steps than five big steps. She told me that if you achieve success in small doses, you’d always want to come back for more. Big steps are more challenging and occur less often. Plus, it’s very easy to become complacent after a big achievement. Small steps can occur on an every day basis, which helps you become better every day (what could be better than that?).

My immediate goals for this next chapter of my life are like every college student: get an internship and find a job. Luckily, I’ve got a job that I enjoy now, but I need to take it to the next level. I work for a great company, but I need to do the work in and out of the classroom to show them that I am something different. That leads back to my first article and really my biggest goal in life; be different. I’m ready to take that to the next level (and I need to). The job market is very competitive and if you don’t stand out, you’ll be left behind. This happens to many more people than you think, and I sure as hell don’t want that to be me.

Honestly, I’ve come to realize that I’m actually not nervous about this next chapter of my life. I’m excited and ready to compete for what I want. A lot of action will need to be taken and there will be plenty of self-improvement needed. However, that will not only make me a better employee, but a better person, and that is the most important thing of all.