At the beginning of this year, I felt really lost and terrified to graduate collage. I didn't feel like I had any sense of direction and more than anything, I felt unprepared to be making life decisions. I am so thankful for my friends and Bradley University's awesome English professors because they were the ones who really helped guide me in making my final decision.When I was talking to a good friend of mine about all of my worries, she said,

"Just try to calm down and breathe. Jackie, close your eyes and tell me what career would make you the happiest?"

It wasn't easy for me to calm my mind, but when I did shut my eyes, I swear I saw bookshelves. I told her that I would be happiest being a librarian and she smiled and told me to pursue that. Once I discovered what would really make me happy, I just decided to go for it. I may not know exactly what my future holds, but working hard for a goal that will make me happy, just felt like the right thing. But it wasn't just that being a librarian would make me happy, I was really passionate about it. For as long as I can remember, I have been in love with reading. I didn't just grow up in a suburb of Chicago, I grew up walking through the wardrobe with Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie, fighting in the Hunger Games with Katniss Everdeen, and going to rumbles between the greasers and the south side socs with Pony Boy and the rest of the gang. I've never felt right if I wasn't reading something, and honestly nothing smells better than a brand new book to me! So when I told my friend that I wanted to be a librarian, it just made sense and I was shocked that I didn't realize it sooner. That was what I was meant to do with my life and from that point on, I've worked really hard to get there. After I graduate from Bradley University in May, I am proud to say that I will be attending the University of Illinois's library science program the following August.

I am sharing this story because I know that the struggle is real when you are trying to figure out what you want in life. I'm not saying that I have all the answers, because I DEFINITELY don't. But, I know what that anxiety feels like and I just want everyone to know that they are not alone. In fact, I happen to know that it's normal to feel that way! But no matter what you are feeling, It really is going to work out. Everyone knows deep down what they want out of life and once you realize what that thing is, go for it. Even if it feels like it will never happen, I promise you, if you are motivated you can achieve anything. Sometimes, we're our own worst enemy and we just have to fight those thoughts and concerns that sit in our heads because they are what hold us back. If you can let those thoughts go, and you let the desires of your heart lead you, you can become or achieve anything that you want.

I'm not saying I have figured it all out when it comes to discovering your dream job or even just what makes you happy. But I do think that I've made a lot of progress in this area of my life in a short period of time and I'm so thankful for that. So, I just want to encourage everyone to go for their dream, no matter what it is. Because every dream has the possibilities of being your reality!