In elementary school, we start to have big hopes and dreams and are told that we can, “be anything you put your mind to.”

As we get older and are faced with reality, we’re asked, “where do you see yourself in five years?”, and we struggle to have an answer.

The fear of the unknown has been a huge struggle for me throughout high school. I remember freshman year at fifteen years old when my counselors were already mentioning college and possible career choices. It was very overwhelming at the time because I was unsure of what I wanted. I have a career in mind that I feel passionate about, but in the back of my mind, I wonder if it’s the best choice for me. I fear regret and wasting my time and money.

In my opinion, I feel like people sometimes put too much pressure on teens and young adults to have a set plan. It’s normal to not know where you see yourself in five years because you aren’t a time traveler. It’s normal to try something out, hate it and try something else.

Recently, I went to a college visit and I remember them stressing the chance to explore something new, that you don’t want to major in to see if you’d like it as a minor. It gave you the opportunity to explore new things – which I loved. I went to another one and it had courses you can take if you’re undecided to help take off that pressure and help you find what’s best fit. I loved hearing that this college understood student’s minds and made the college process less stressful.

According to berry.edu, the leader of the Center for Personal and Professional Development, Dean Marc Hunsaker states that, “Over 75% of college students in the U.S. will change their major at least once as they learn more about themselves, their academic/professional interests and their goals for life after college.”  Hunsaker makes a point in saying that you’ll learn more about yourself throughout your college experience because you’ll change as a person and may have a completely different interest than what you came to college looking for.

Exploration is important when self-doubt is near, and it can help make decisions.