It’s quite often that I find myself asking what I want out of life and what my true purpose is. My parents seem to ask all the time, “what do you want to do with your life?” It’s a stressful question to answer to say the least. I feel like I want to do everything – and I know that’s impossible. I think the issue stems from not knowing what I want, or not knowing what exactly makes me happy. I’ve always dreamed of becoming a doctor and helping others. Most of the experience I’ve gained thus far has been in a clinical setting, working in different departments in medicine. Lately however, it just feels like this isn’t producing as much of a “satisfying feeling” it gave me before. I write this because I know in college, it’s common to hear students changing their major five times before they’re happy – and that’s perfectly okay. We all need reassurance that what we are doing is right for ourselves and no one else. Our futures should not depend on the opinions of others, not even family. I have heard people tell me in the past, “well if you don’t go into medicine, I want nothing to do with you.” Only in the most extreme of cases have I heard these exact words. But this goes to show the point that our futures are guided by the choices we make today.

It’s okay to not know what you want out of life, because life is a continual process of growth and adaptation. Our feelings and views about things change as we become more exposed to things and grow. What used to make you happy at one point and used to keep you fascinated and engaged, may not be that way now and that’s okay. It doesn’t mean you won’t have things figured out or sorted through, it just means that you are paving the way for a career that really will mean something to you and make a difference in your life and the lives of others. So don’t worry what anybody else thinks or worry about rushing through school to be finished in a four-year limit, take the time to find what really resonates with you so that you may go into a brighter future waking up every day doing something you love and enjoy; Something that makes you happy.