Be Careful When You Pick Your Poison

   Things never turn out the way we plan them to. Ever.

   Every scenario imagined, from how a date will go to how your future will pan out, doesn't happen exactly the way you envision it. Sure, if you don't over-think it and it's a pretty cut-and-dry situation it may play out the way you thought it would. But 99% of the time, reality will steer from your pre-destined path.
   So how do I prevent disaster? My advice: have a plan B, along with C, D, and E. If you're into taking risks, well, that's your call. I get taking risks for some things. No-worries-it-won't-ruin-my-life things. As for more serious decisions, I would suggest going into a situation with an open mind and a few good back-up plans.
   Primary example: College. The #1 nightmare/dream for scholastic nerds like myself. I wouldn't suggest setting your mind on one college before you know all of the factors that play a big part in whether you will or won't go. By this I mean things like majors, housing, tuition, scholarships, etc. If you're anything like me, the first thing you look for when you research a college is the tuition and room and board fees, since it's a big deciding factor.
   The whole 'It never turns out the way you plan' idea is a huge source of anxiety for me, and I'm sure many others. What if I fail at my major? What if I can't find a job with my degree? What if I hate what I'm doing?  The easy answer to that is to start over. Sounds great and all, but I do have to face the music at some point. I'll be paying for ONE round of college for the rest of my life---more than that is a far cry from reality. So, I'm going to test out all of my options, so I can be 100% sure when I make such a life-changing decision.
   On that note, I leave you with this question: Do you truly know who you are, and what you want out of your life? It's quite the thing to think about, but if you don't think about it now, the life you're meant to live may pass right on by when you weren't looking. I know, I stress this a lot in my writing. It's only because I know how important it is to me, and it may be important to you, too.