DEAR ABBY: I feel lost. I'll be 18 soon and for the past two years I have felt like my life is going nowhere and won't change. I haven't decided what I want to be, and I don't want to grow up. I'm afraid of the future and what it will be like to be on my own.
I don't know if anyone else has felt like this, or if it's just a part of growing up. When I was 12, I couldn't wait until I was 18 and on my own. Now I feel pressured and like I need to hurry and choose what I want to be. Please help me. -- LOST IN VIRGINIA
DEAR LOST: Do you know where this pressure is coming from? It's coming from yourself. Years ago, high school students had to decide what they wanted to do for the rest of their lives because the workplace was different. People trained for jobs they would perform until they retired. That is no longer true. Workers today must remain flexible and willing to learn new skills because they may change jobs several times during their working lives.
Not all people have the same interests and aptitudes, so start thinking about subjects that you like. Visit the library and research how they can be applied. Your future isn't something to be afraid of -- it's something to be explored and enjoyed. You do not have to make any hasty decisions now.