I remember back when I was about 10 years old. I had my whole life planed out, right to the tee. I knew what kind of house I wanted, where I was going to hide all my money, what kind of car I was going to drive, everything! Eleven years later I look back and I'm nowhere near my original plan. I'm not even close to the plan I had 5 years ago. So what happened? Where did all my aspirations to become an astronaut or scientist or rock star go?

I think it was in 1997 when my life took a change, not for the worse but a harder path none the less. I was just starting the second semester of my last year of high school. By this time I was well known among teachers and the principal for being highly intelligent but so lazy that I wouldn't even pass a spelling test made for 5th graders. I didn't care though, I played guitar in a rock band. I was king of the world (my own world anyway) I started to fail on purpose, just to piss off the teachers. At night I would come home and study university math and physics books then go to school and be put in a class with the 'special' students that had learning disabilities. Anyway, the point I'm making is that I eventually quit school. I was ready to start my life and I was ready NOW.

Now you might think this story about life after high school is different from yours because the majority of you actually graduated school, and probably the majority of you don't come from a place where the economy is so low that there is an almost 20% unemployment rate. But you can relate to this no matter what your background is and no matter where you're from because we all go through the change from high school to adult life.

The first thing you are going to realize is that living on your own is way better than living with your parents, but at the same time a lot harder. You have to learn (fast) how to manage your money, pay bills, buy groceries, clean up after yourself, and get along with roommates. It's a very hard process to go through (I was for me anyway). Next comes the realization that you are going to need a job, even if you are going to college, a part time job is almost a must. If you are lucky you will have rich supporting parents or at least find a job that you like doing, but I'm guessing that most of you will end up doing something you totally hate. That is the hardcore reality of it. Remember all those stories your parents would tell you about having only a box of Kraft Dinner and a stale piece of bread to eat for a week? Well get ready to make some stories of your own to tell your kids!

Now it's not all bad, there is something that you will spend your spare money on besides the phone bill from calling home. It's partying! It's one of the most well known activities of college students and young adults in the country. You will learn soon enough that drinking alcohol will quickly replace all those activities you had when you were younger. Remember all those sports you were so good at? Unless you have great discipline you can say goodbye to your great athletic ability. Having to work and go to college for 10 or 12 hours a day leaves little time to practice any of that. You will be getting off work at 11 PM and heading to the local bar to have a drink and relax. Eventually the only thing you have left in life that gives you pleasure is drinking!

It's sad I know and not everyone's life will turn out like that. Even if it do most will be moving on to bigger and better things by the time they are 22. It is a phase however that everyone goes through. Kind of like an extreme high from being on your own to quickly finding yourself in the gutter. But trust me no matter how hard it gets you will look back upon this as the best years of your life. Embrace it and enjoy every moment.

--Lestat