"When you were 16, what did you think your life would like like? Does it look like that? Is that a good thing?" This question came from my "365 Days of Writing Prompts" booklet. As soon as I read it, I thought long and hard. It's only been 4 years since I was 16, really not that long ago. But, so much has changed about me and my life (expected of most people in 4 years, right?) that I can hardly remember my expectations for age 20.
As I thought more about my mindset at age 16, I recall thinking that I would be in college right after high school, to be an Occupational Therapist. I remember thinking that finding a job will be easy. I also thought all my friends would still be my closest friends. I expected to be in a serious relationship with some high school sweetheart, because I didn't know anyone else.
A lot of those things changed in a heartbeat after my high school graduation. Some things changed before that. I'm not a college student, I'm currently unemployed (even after working for a few years), I totally changed what I wanted to study, close friends drifted (but I still have a few very close friends from high school), and I'm in love with my best friend whom I met at an event from Western Michigan University.
I didn't set extremely high standards for myself, I just thought I would be a normal college student. I am clearly not a typical college student, but it's okay, because I've learned so much these past couple of years. I've had opportunities open up left and right that I wouldn't have been able to do if I were a full-time student. I had no idea that I would meet an incredible man that brings out the best in me. Overall, I think it's a good thing that I'm not where I thought I'd be when I was 16.
Am I successful? So far, yes. Success for me, right now, is getting through and learning from each day. I may not be moving toward a college degree just yet, but I'm trusting God's plan, and I'm liking what he's doing with me. It's great to have a plan, to dream about where you will be in the next 4-5 years, but the key for me is to not get too attached to the road along the way. The path may change and I may not be where I expected, but God has the best planned for me, and I can't be happier to follow it.
A lot of those things changed in a heartbeat after my high school graduation. Some things changed before that. I'm not a college student, I'm currently unemployed (even after working for a few years), I totally changed what I wanted to study, close friends drifted (but I still have a few very close friends from high school), and I'm in love with my best friend whom I met at an event from Western Michigan University.
I didn't set extremely high standards for myself, I just thought I would be a normal college student. I am clearly not a typical college student, but it's okay, because I've learned so much these past couple of years. I've had opportunities open up left and right that I wouldn't have been able to do if I were a full-time student. I had no idea that I would meet an incredible man that brings out the best in me. Overall, I think it's a good thing that I'm not where I thought I'd be when I was 16.
Am I successful? So far, yes. Success for me, right now, is getting through and learning from each day. I may not be moving toward a college degree just yet, but I'm trusting God's plan, and I'm liking what he's doing with me. It's great to have a plan, to dream about where you will be in the next 4-5 years, but the key for me is to not get too attached to the road along the way. The path may change and I may not be where I expected, but God has the best planned for me, and I can't be happier to follow it.