Written by Brittany Pettinger of Elgin, Manitoba

The future can be a scary thing. One moment you’re entering your first year of high school, and the next you’re applying for college or university. The pressure to have a plan after high school can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Ultimately, it comes down to what you want, not what everyone else wants you to do.

When I was in Grade 9, I was already getting asked, “What do you want to do when you graduate?” Back then, I thought I was going to become a paramedic. By the time I reached Grade 12, my plans had changed about ten times.

Almost everyone from my graduating class decided to either work or attend college or university. I ended up traveling to Ireland with YWAM (Youth With a Mission) for five months. I have officially been home for good since February 2016. Throughout my time traveling, I spoke to God about what I was supposed to do when I finally came home. After much prayer and consideration, I have decided to get a degree in social work, which I will be doing this fall.

It took me two years after high school to decide what I wanted to do with my life. It takes some people far longer than that. There is no rule that says you need to have a plan for your life by the time you’re 18. God has gifted us with free will, and He will always be there to help us with the big decisions in our lives. “The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:14).

The world is a scary place, but if we truly believe God has a plan for us, then we have nothing to fear.