Life after high school is not what I was prepared for it be, I am no longer afraid to sit here and admit it. When I graduated my Uncle told me “Congrats, the easiest part of your life is over, good luck with the rest” and boy was he right. The worst part about the real world is everything comes down to money. Every. Single. Thing. But right now is really the time of our lives to be preparing for our jobs, for our future, for the day our parents stop providing us with food or a cell phone, for the day we have to pay our own rent and become parents of our children just to watch them go through the same thing 18 years later. This is the beautiful thing we call life and the most sensitive thing any person can do is understand that right now things may get in the way and everything is not going to go as planned.

Summer after college semesters are mostly spent working. Long, hard, dreadful hours of nothing but work. But it’s a great feeling when you see that direct deposit hit and your bank account rise by the numbers. It’s hard to save. Student loans, cars, rent, food-- you as a college student have so much to pay for so yes I will say, it is hard to save. But why are you doing this? Where is this going to bring you in life?

You’re in school so you can have a career, so you can live a comfortable life in 10-15 years. You have a car so you can drive to your three jobs and make money, not so you can show off that you can afford the latest BMW or show off how fast the car goes. Being a teenager, if you have any car that runs and gets you from point A to point B, you’re ahead. As unfortunate as this is, in your teenage years is when you should really focus on you. Focus on getting your life to where you want it to be, studying hard to stay in school so you can have a great career, being a teenager is all about getting your life together.

I watched a video a few months back of Michelle Obama speaking to teenage girls at a high school and her message is very clear: work for your studies now. This video inspired me. Having someone to date right now might seem like the most important thing, but do not think short term. If this relationship right now is keeping you from succeeding later, let it go. If you worry about anyone else, you’ll never get to where you want to be. Michelle Obama even says ““There is no boy at this age that is cute enough or interesting enough to stop you from getting your education,” she said. “If I had worried about who liked me and who thought I was cute when I was your age, I wouldn’t be married to the president of the United States today.” So relax, eventually that part of your life will work out. For now, focus on your future.

A lot of people put a lot of pressure on themselves, working two to three jobs just so they can afford their student loans. I understand. But don’t stop now. Don’t quit or complain, I know it’s tough but I promise in the future all of this will pay off. The footsteps you leave now will only help you long term. Everyone understands that this is tough, but relax. Calm down. Do whatever it is you have to do-- you will graduate, you will find a job, you will end up doing what you’re supposed to be doing with who you’re supposed to be doing it with, as long as you work for it. You can and will achieve anything you put your mind to. But for now? Don’t worry about the other person’s grass, focus on making yours greener. And don’t complain about having a lot on your plate, after all, your goal was to eat.