Past decisions should not dictate your future. People expect you to know what you want to do with your life once you enter high school. They expect you to know where you want to go to college, what you want to major in… My question is why? Why do you need to know what you want to do when you’re an adult, when in reality you’re only a teenager? Think about it. The heart of a teenager is drastically different than an adult. Your mind can change as quickly as the weather can change and they both have the same effect: they both can take a positive or negative spin. The change in your attitude can either make or break you as the weather can change into a fierce storm or into a beautiful sunny day.

                    So why make a decision so soon when you’re so far away from actually taking that plan into action? Instead of having the mindset of “Yes! THIS is what I want to do for the rest of my life”, why aren’t you allowed to have an open mind and try a little bit of everything that might interest you and see what you want to pursue when it’s actually time to pursue it? Some people don’t get into their dream college because they don’t have enough so called “pre- experience” with their major. Maybe that person had a last minute change on their destined path. Don’t you go to school to become educated in the subject, not because you’re already a master? Because you can easily think you want to be a scientist for the longest time, but realize that you’re meant to be a lawyer.

                    No, I’m not saying you shouldn’t have an IDEA of what you want to pursue in life when you’re a junior in high school struggling to ace the SATs or staying up  late doing homework, but to be observant of your surroundings because who knows what your final destination will be. I say work hard and focus on school and what you’re passionate about for the time being, because if you aren’t enjoying what you’re doing, what’s the point? But society shouldn’t make you dictate your life at such a young age. Yes, when you’re a teenager you’re old enough to make your own decisions, but are you really old enough to decide what you want to do for the rest of your life? I am not yet in college and I am bombarded with college options and career choices. I’m only 16. Honestly, I have NO idea how I will feel about my current choices, in the future. Society should allow for a more open-minded environment to live in. Past decisions should not dictate your future.

                                                                                         –Christine Hachem