You are smarter than I was at your age, but I urge you not to take much solace in that. When faced with world altering decisions, your brain can betray you. The smarter you are, the louder the what ifs.

I remember the feeling distinctly from that time in my life, the gnawing anxiety as I waited for revelation from a deity who seemed intent on staying silent while I toiled with indecision. We called it “direction” back then. God, give me direction, I prayed. I didn’t know at the time that we live in a directionless world. Or inasmuch as direction is real, it is a reality of our own creation.

At times I am haunted by the ghost of your grandfather. He dances and sings his favorite line from an old rock anthem—There’s still time to change the road you’re on—a declaration both false and true at once. There is only one road for any of us. The only thing you can change about it is your perspective.

If you don’t understand what I mean, try pretending. Pretend there is nothing behind and nothing before you, that there is only your two feet on this very road. And believe it is a perfect road for you.