Forever Defined.

All this demand on subject selections and work experience. It really makes you think. What do I want to be when I finish high school? I say “be”, because your future career is how you are usually defined as. Even in introductions; “and this is Lachlan Bennett – he’s a published author” or “meet Tara Deith – she helps run one of the top non-profit wildlife veterinary hospitals in Australia.” Or even if you’re lucky enough to be on the Biggest Loser or Survivor, underneath your name whenever it pops up will be “Shannen Potter – Television Reporter.”
 

Like it or not, we will be forever defined by what we chose.  And you’re probably not going to want to be stuck with something that will bring down that first impression or demoralise your character.
 

So is now the moment which will affect our futures? Do these last few years in high school really influence how we will shape ourselves in our adult lives? What if you have no idea what you want to be?

All this pressure from friends saying they have this massive plan. How they’ve mapped out their lives to every specific detail. And you’re left sitting in the dark.

"Like it or not, we will be forever defined by what we chose." 

And what if you push through those things dragging you back? What if you finally reach those spectacular dreams? What if you finally get there and it’s not what you want to do for the rest of your life? Then what? Must you start all over? Go to your “fallback” option which was just as heinous as the first?
 

To be thinking about these things is not exactly what I wish to spend my teen years doing. I’d much prefer to live life to the fullest and think about the now. But how can I possibly do that with all these interruptions from parents, teachers, even professionals telling me that that’s not the way to go. I’m so over it.

People keep telling us that as long as we want it enough, we can be whatever we chose. So is it just our wants that keep us from reaching our dreams? Or is life more complicated than that?