BABYGIRL!

At just seventeen years old, many people are expected to make some of the biggest decisions of their lives. Where will you go to college? What will you major in? What career do you want to pursue? How are teenagers supposed to answer these life-changing questions when they are still discovering who they are?

Too often, students choose careers because they feel pressured by their parents or society rather than because those careers reflect their own interests and goals. Parents may encourage a certain path because it seems successful, prestigious, or financially secure. While their intentions are often rooted in love, constantly trying to meet someone else’s expectations can be exhausting. Pretending to be someone you are not only makes it harder to discover who you truly want to become.

Seeking advice from parents, teachers, and mentors is important, but recognize the difference between guidance and control. No one should feel forced to become a person they are not. Learning who you are requires the freedom to explore your own interests, make mistakes, and make decisions for yourself. Those choices may not always be easy, but they are an essential part of growing up.

History shows that meaningful change often begins with people who refuse to follow expectations simply because others demand it. If Rosa Parks had accepted segregation without question, the Civil Rights Movement might have looked very different. If Malala Yousafzai had remained silent instead of standing up for girls’ education, millions of people around the world would have lost a powerful voice for equality. While choosing a college major is not the same as challenging injustice, these examples remind us that progress begins when people have the courage to choose their own path.

At seventeen, it is unreasonable to expect someone to have every answer about their future. Instead of pressuring young people to become someone they are not, we should encourage them to discover who they are first. The decisions you make should reflect your own passions, values, and dreams – not simply the expectations of others. After all, it is impossible to become your best self if you never have the chance to find out who that person is.