When you were five and someone asked you what you wanted to do when you grow up, you probably responded by blurting out the most extravagant, whimsical occupation you could imagine-an astronaut, a ballerina, the president, a superhero, or perhaps even a princess. If someone asked you this question again at twelve, a common answer may have consisted of something along the lines of say, a firefighter or a Peace Corps officer. Now lets cut to the chase by recalling a more recent dilemma: You’re about to graduate high school, and the pressure is on for you to declare exactly how you intend to spend the rest of your days.
     If this last thought has crossed your mind more than once and each time caused you to break out into a cold sweat before falling into petrified oblivion, you are not alone. Every year, students across the globe get the what-the-heck-am-I-gonna-do blues. Fear not, my friend; I have been there, and I am a survivor. Lucky for you, I am here to offer some helpful suggestions.
     Perhaps this affliction is what landed you at Skyline College. After all, a community college is a worthy place to go when you are not quite ready to etch your life’s goals in stone. It certainly was for me. I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I could be a teacher, a psychologist, a physical therapist, a social worker, a journalist, or a lawyer, just to name a few (and who can forget one’s distant dream of becoming a ballerina). All sounded good, some paid better than others, but none really jumped out at me. The bottom line: I was too inexperienced in life to make such a drastic decision.
     So rather than wait for my calling to appear before me in the form of a revelation or some other unlikely spiritual phenomenon, I did what any other lost but ambitious soul would do. I took every class that looked remotely appealing, from psychology to oceanography to dance to yoga. Call me crazy for taking classes that didn’t fulfill the general education requirement, but I had a lot of fun. I recommend you try it as well, because even if you think your choices for the future are right for you, you might prove yourself wrong after trying something else, something out of the ordinary. And if you don’t change your mind, at least you will have departed with a more enlightened mind. Heck, you might even use your unconventional skills to land you a spot on Jeopardy someday.
     As for me, I have already taken the next step. After three glorious years of lower division enrichment, I applied to San Francisco State University and even declared a major. I’ll soon be bound for UC Davis to complete my bachelor’s degree, and, if all goes well, I may eventually end up becoming a lawyer. However, nobody’s future is etched in stone; I may at any time change my mind and join the circus if it suits my fancy, and I’m okay with that.
     Now that I have reached the ripe old age of 21, I offer you this advice: think outside the box. Sure, it’s a cliché, but there’s truth behind it. You don’t have to finish college in four years and immediately sink your teeth into a conventional nine-to-five job. Take your time, even if that means taking a couple extra years to earn your degree. It’s okay to change your mind somewhere down the road. Travel! Enjoy the finer things in life, just in case you never have the chance again. Consider the world your playground. If you look closely, you will find a plethora of resources at your fingertips. Take advantage of them. Hey, where’s the fun in life if you can’t conjure up the nerve to surpass your own dreams?