Autumn brings a wave of leaves, pumpkin spice lattes–and debilitating expectations of seniors. This year, a projected 19.9 million high school seniors will apply to a college or university and, every year, seventeen and eighteen year old kids are expected to know how they want to spend the rest of their lives: from their undergrad majors to their future careers.

But I’m here to present an opinion that is going to puncture your NA bubble: that what you do and where you go to college doesn’t matter.

These are the facts. Of those 19.9 million students, 20-50 percent of students will go into college undecided. Of those same 19.9 million, 75 percent will change their major at least once. 10 percent will change schools. Most importantly: 47 percent will not find a first job related to their major. 32 percent will not use it at all.

So why do we expect ourselves to have it all together? Why do we judge kids for going into college undecided when, chances are, the kid who seems to know exactly where they are going will end up on a different path?

For most, it’s the feeling of security that a “plan” provides. You can map out your entire future and never be afraid because you always know your next step.

But there is a major problem with that mentality that we are ignoring. There’s a variable here that we are trying to make X, but is really undefined.

Life isn’t secure. It doesn’t owe you anything. And the idea that it does is what I’m shooting down.

All the plans in the world can’t account for the fact that life doesn’t like plans. You can leave this massive yellow building absolutely certain that you are going to graduate from Duquesne and become a lawyer.

Then, halfway through your degree, you end up in a horrible car accident and have to drop out of college for a semester to go to physical therapy. Maybe you’ll fall in love with your physical therapist and decide to move to Kansas City and work as a social worker with the degree you get from Kansas City Community College.

A hypothetical situation? Maybe. But it’s more likely than everything working out the way you planned.

Don’t believe me? Most of your favorite teachers never planned on ending up where they did.

“I started out as a psychology major, switched to become a communications major, worked in communications, went back to grad school for my education degree and here I am today.” – Mrs. Ruffolo

“I knew I wanted to be a teacher and thought I wanted to teach French. I realized soon enough that I didn’t want to teach French.” -Mrs. Lombardi

“I went to school as a flute performance major, then added Family and Consumer Sciences.” -Mrs. Gallagher

“I changed colleges, but not my major. All my friends went to Edinboro, but after two years and no money, I switched to Duquesne.” -Mrs. Will

“I started as a math major… Then changed to working with support students. – Mr. Gressly.

My point is simple. You don’t know what you’re doing. You can’t possibly know where life is going to take you. And that’s okay.

So the next time someone tells you that you have to know what you’re doing with your life, ask them how their plans worked out.