Do you have a five-year plan?

When I’m asked that question, I just make something up. But if I was serious about the plan, would I follow through? Probably not.

Some people do know who and what they want to be, and that’s amazing. But there are so many ways our lives could turn out, which makes it really easy to get anxious about the future. Growing up, I thought that if I was not on a certain path in my life, I was doing something wrong.

Anxiety has made me do some stupid stuff. I have put off homework or avoided things that are good for me. We have cycles of anxiety and choices that cause anxiety.

Our fears can deprive us of happiness rather than keeping us safe, but don’t shut off your emotions.

Fear is good because it shows that you care about something but you shouldn’t trust it.

If we don’t take a risk and try something we want to, we will regret it later.

At the beginning of high school, I secluded myself from people and didn’t do the things that could have help me succeed. My fears of failure often kept me from doing my best in my academics and passions.

I wish I had talked to more people. I wish I had joined more clubs.

Sometimes you don’t know where to start, and that’s okay. Just do anything that you know will help you be who you want. Take small steps and find out what you can and can’t do.

If you fail, it’s not the end. You will find you are not the person you think you are.

Worrying about the future does not change anything. Just live day by day and trust that things will get better.