It feels like just yesterday that I was walking into my first day of school here at Notre Dame, and now here I am starting to apply to colleges and deciding what to do for the rest of my life.

When I was a freshman, the seniors would tell us all the time how fast high school goes by. I never took it too seriously because how fast could it truly go? Well, they were right. It went by faster than I could ever imagine.

I also thought my senior year would be pretty carefree. I thought it wouldn’t be as stressful as it is right now. All I had my junior year was the usual clubs, service and school work. Now this year I have all of that plus deciding where I want to go to college.

I’ve been narrowing it down to the schools I’d like to attend, but I always told myself I’d decide what I would want to major in first. I thought I had it decided a dozen times, and every time, I end up going back to something else or coming up with something completely different.

The problem with all of this is deciding between two things. Should I major in something I know I can get a really good job in, or should I major in something that I enjoy and will make me happy? I’m constantly bouncing between the two and hoping I can find something that fits both.

I’m seventeen years old and pretty much deciding what I want to do for the rest of my life. Everyone keeps saying it’s OK to not know, but it’s hard to believe that when everyone else around me knows exactly what they want to do or at least seem to know.

It’s stressful, but I’ve managed pretty well. I’ve got a great group of friends by my side, my family constantly rooting for me and a school that will support me no matter what I choose to do. It breaks my heart that in just eight months I’ll graduate and have to say goodbye to the people who have made my last four years so incredibly amazing.

So I’ll hold onto these next eight months and hope for the best in my future. I know God has a plan for me; it’s up to me to find it.