"What are you going to do after high school?"

This is, as I'm sure many high-schoolers will agree, one of the most dreaded questions asked by an adult. It is a follow-up question they deem mandatory when you have reached your junior year. We understand that it is asked merely for a topic of conversation, yet our response says a lot. An "I don't know" makes us sound unmotivated, which is unacceptable at our young and opportunity-filled age. I could think of worse answers.

"You know that guy on the street corner with the cardboard sign? I'm his apprentice."
"I'm going to collect stamps. The green kind, that is."
"I'm actually going to take a shot at modeling. I hear that tall and thin has gone out of style."
"Well, it has been a small dream of mine to work at this little place called McDonald's...."
"I think I'll live at home for say, another thirty years or so."

When we say we don't know what we want to be when we grow up, it can mean different things.

1. I know what I want to do, but don't want to say it because you might not approve. So I'm going to keep quiet until I have started. That way, it will be harder for you to try to talk me out of it.
2. I sort of have an idea of what I want to do, but I don't want to say it out loud until I'm sure. Otherwise, if I change my mind, I will have to explain why and you might think that I can't stick with one thing.
3. I have no idea what I want to do, but I have made list of things that I don't want to do.

For me personally, I am more a number two. I want to do something with math or science, but it is not set in stone. I know I am good at those things, but do they make me happy? What makes me happy? To tell you the truth, I have no idea.

I am happy when I succeed, more so when it was a difficult task. I enjoy receiving praise for a job well done. But these two can go along with any job. And do I want a job that will be a challenge for me personally (say, going into a job more along the lines of history) than something I am naturally good at (like a mathematician or engineer)? I wish I knew which choice will make me happy thirty years from now. I am not a psychic, however, and cannot see that far ahead.

So to adults: when we say we don't know what we want to do, it isn't that we don't care. We do (at least, most of us). It is terrifying, though, to make a decision that will change our entire life, either for the better or worse. Some of us do know, and that's great. But for those of us that don't, allow us time to decide and save your questions until later.

High schoolers: want to get an idea about a carreer? Take this really long test and find out!