The next 4 years...
I grew up with less expectations and influences than a lot of my friends. While my peers grew up with strict rules and forced extracurriculars, I for the most part had the freedom to do what I liked (except swimming). As a result, I was pretty independent for my age, and although everyone might be on the same page now, there comes another opportunity to change: College. As near graduates from high school, I think we can all agree that the shift to college (or other paths) is one of the largest shifts in our lives. We move into a period of more freedom yet more responsibilities and more individuality. In high school, I am influenced externally by my friend group, parents, and teachers at school. Internally I am influenced by many of the same people but indirectly, such as competition and expectations. In college, these will all have less of an effect. There won't be large influences, but I hope to mature into the "real world" smoothly. As a college student, I'll be fo...