Read This Before You Go Back To School

[CrusadingAvenger]

I know, it’s that time of the year again where
it’s another year going back to school,
dreading all the boring school work ahead,
only to be anticipating for the weekends yet again.

This will be another year for fresh new faces
to cross your path, for opportunities to come
your way, or who knows what’s in store for you?

Though, most importantly, this will also be the year
again where you get asked the same question
you most likely got asked time and time again growing up:

What do you want to be when you grow up?

When you get asked that question, how does that make you feel?

Chances are most likely you don’t even know what
you want to do for the rest of your life. Hell, you probably
haven’t even explored enough what things you love doing.

I want you to know that if you don’t have that figured out,
it’s okay. Don’t be in a rush to find it.

Everyone around you is telling you to have everything
figured out by the time you graduate high school.

Everyone around you will say to follow the same path
everyone is following, leaving you with the impression
that success is this “one size fits all” glove.

Everyone around you will pressure you to go to school,
to go get that high paying job they’ve always wanted
you to have, to go out and start living in “the real world.”

Let me make it clear to you:

You’re not gonna have everything figured out by
the time you graduate high school, or even when
you finish college if you decide to go.

Stop feeling the need to fill in the shoes of the
expectations people around you are indirectly setting for you.

This is your life.

No one’s gonna live it except you.

Everyone’s timing is different, and if it takes time to
figure out what it is you want to do for the rest of your life,
so be it. Don’t worry about if you see other people
having “figured out their life” because for all you know,
they’re probably not even sure it’s what they want.

People will tell you to follow a certain path, but if you
spend your whole life being told what to do, you
won’t go very far. You will be doing what the 80%
are doing, and at best, you did what was easy, but it wasn’t you.

I’m not saying don’t go to school.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t take advice from people.

Follow the path you want to pursue. Don’t waste your
whole entire life attempting to live in other people’s shadow,
only to regret later on you didn’t do what you wanted.

The definition of what it means to live a “happy, successful
life” is going to be different for everyone.

I have no interest in telling you what exact path you
need to follow because there is no right path.

At the end of the day, if you go after the life you want,
it’s in alignment with your goals, and you’re happy doing it,
it gives you meaning and purpose that you know in your heart
that it feels right, that’s all that matters and nothing else.

Figure out what you’re awesome at, do that for the rest
of your life, and quit letting the voices of other people
get inside your own head.

If you have a dream in your heart, go out there and live it.

[Celyn]

Wish I had read this back when I was in school! Thanks for sharing

[CrusadingAvenger]

No problem! This would've been a great message to read back then, but having learned this along the way, I thought this message would be something that would help a lot of people who are in school right now.

[Arabesque- golfing girl.]

Thank you so much for sharing this with us. It was really good.

[CrusadingAvenger]

No problem Emma! I appreciate your feedback, glad you liked this particular message.

[Ennui.]

Definitely things I wish I heard growing up!

[CrusadingAvenger]

Same here! Though, it's better to know now than never. Unfortunately some never really look at it this way.