Don't panic

'Don't panic' is probably one of the common things you are told, leading up to your twenties. From choosing your A-level options, to writing your personal statement, to attending University open days, through to writing your dissertation. But how can you not panic?

As a twenty year old now, I watch my 17 year old brother go through the same stresses I did, and I feel myself flash back to the frantic rush to write a perfect personal statement to a university I wasn't sure I wanted to go to, to work towards a career I had no idea if I wanted to succeed in. 

We sit as adults who of many, did not face these decisions, and underestimate the immense pressure it feels to have so many life decisions to choose from yet with such little life experience. You spend your whole life in education, following not only the 'social norms' which are expected of you, but the law which requires you to learn particular things and engage in a specific curriculum, and then in the blink of an eye, you go solo. 

The sheer anxiety sweeps over you, not only do you want to do good by yourself, but you also want to do what is expected of you by your parents, teachers, mentors. With education becoming much more of an accessible product of our society and culture, the only way to stay at the top, to increase your chances of becoming what is deemed  'successful' is by 'bettering yourself', to keep learning, to not stop with education, education is key. And yet, even then, you aren't guaranteed to achieve your goals. I feel, looking back now, you are sheltered from, and remain blissfully naive of all of the conflicting elements and arguments as a school child, until the adults deem you ready, old enough, mature enough, to take it all on, battle with it, and form a decision which will have an impact on the rest of your life but is that fair? 

A 17 year old, to suddenly be deemed mature enough to decide the next three years of their future, while having no preparation for it up until now. Surely that, in itself is tarnishing potential that they are being 'offered' before any decision is even made.

This is't an argument, nor a political statement, but merely a reminder, that next time you are moaning about an 'off-the-rails' teenager, or a moody son, an emotional sister, to stop for a second, and to take a minute to appreciate the overwhelming processes they are going through right now to determine their next few years. It's an extremely stressful time, and one which you are not prepared for.