Where do you see yourself in five years?

Life is daunting. One second, you feel sure of yourself and your future, and the next, it feels like your whole world is crumbling down.

You know that saying, "ignorance is bliss"? it is true.

As I’ve grown older and wiser, I am only twenty but still, I have realized that wisdom isn’t necessarily genius but rather awareness of all that the world has to offer. Things you didn't know about suddenly come to the surface, and your entire perspective changes within a matter of moments—a matter of a connection, a matter of a concept.

Everything is subject to change, and life is therefore unpredictable.

Imagine your life is a tranquil lake, on the surface everything is calm until suddenly a stone drops into the water, leaving ripples in every direction. These ripples represent the reality of life. Life goes on, things happen, and sometimes everything changes as a result.

The other day, I had the privilege to visit my hometown and someone that I genuinely look up to asked me this:

"Where do you see yourself in five years?"

Suddenly, reality hit me with full force, and I began to question my future and all of my life choices.

Was I leading myself in the right direction? Where do I even want to see myself in five years?

If you had asked me this question five years ago, I would’ve told you that I'd be in college pursuing my education.

However, now that I am pursuing my college education, I quite hoenstly have no idea what my future holds. Hypothetically speaking, of course- five years from now, I could be anywhere I set my mind to.

Five years from now, I could embark on my dream career, travel the world, be engaged, own a corporation,—only God knows.

The possibilities are endless.

That is the beauty of it. It is incredibly terrifying, to be sure, yet beyond exhilarating. I have so much to look forward to and an array of lifelong experiences, both good and bad, to look back on and guide me forward.

The best part about not knowing what to expect is having the ability to shape your own future. It is up to you to determine how you will choose to live your life and spend your time. 

The key is to remain adaptable and open to new possibilities while staying true to your moral values.

Take time with yourself to reflect on all that you’ve done and all that you hope to do. Make it your goal to accomplish the things you desire rather than letting them simmer as mere ideas in the back of your mind.

It can be challenging to be vulnerable and honest, especially with yourself. Yet, once you learn to listen to yourself and truly understand what you want out of life, your whole world evolves.

Where do you see yourself in five years, ten years even? And what will you accomplish from now until then? Hold yourself accountable, write yourself a letter, make a bucket list, and construct a plan.

Do whatever it takes to become the version of yourself that you want to be. Time is in your favor, so use it wisely.