Assignment 19 - Elizabeth Moore - Scary Stuff Man

My art teacher during both Freshman and Sophomore year is one of my favorite people I have ever known. She is my mentor and my friend, and I don’t know how I would have gotten through High School intact without her. We frequently talk about my future, something that scares me more than most other things because while I know I’m in control of what I do, I also know that everything that will happen is completely out of my hands. And I have this ridiculous need to be the best. To be a doctor, an engineer, a lawyer; you know, one of the professions that requires you to be a pre-something in undergrad and to stay in college until age 35. But Ms. Riley gives me that knowing smile every time she strikes up a conversation about what I want to be, and she tells me that I need to do something that makes me truly happy and leaves enough time in my life for the really important things: God, family, and myself. She thinks I should animate for Pixar or be a teacher :). I still don’t know what I want to do with my life, but I do know that when I make that decision, I’m going to look back on all the advice Ms. Riley gave me and choose the best path forward not to satisfy my ego, but to give myself a happy and fulfilling life.