Dear Dreamer,

I recently spoke to a 50ish-year-old adult woman who followed the advice of her parents when she was your age and became a nurse. Her passion was and is to this day, writing. They advised her to pursue something that promised a better living. She followed their advice and worked as a nurse for many years. I asked her if she regretted this decision. Sadly she said, "Yes, I regret not pursuing my dream of writing."

The time after high school graduation is a huge time for change as you start the next stage in your life. I think way too many high school graduates simply go to college without giving serious thought about what they really want to do. This can lead to a lot of wasted time, financial debt, and a degree that is useless. I have a relative who graduated from college (dad paid well over $100,000), has a college diploma, works part time at the front desk of a workout center, lives at home, and has no idea what he wants to do in the future.

My suggestion to you would be to pursue your dream! How will you know if this is something you'd really like to do with your life unless you try it? Now is a great time to explore and venture out. BUT...make sure you can afford it! Don't expect your parents to carry the financial burden of your dream. Plan carefully how you will be able to pay for all the expenses involved in following your passion. If you can do it, now is a great time.

Stepping out like this may also help you solidify your plans for advanced study. You may find out that this is exactly what you want to study or you may discover a related field of interest. Whatever the result, at least you won't live with any regrets of never pursuing your dream!