Don’t be a puppet of society…unless you want to! 

As we approach our third month into the school year, everyone has most likely adjusted to high school life, whether it be as newcomers or returners. Although it may not seem like it to some, time has surely flown by, and important decisions will soon have to be made regarding our futures. If you’re still young, you probably haven’t worried too much, but for those who are approaching or have reached seniority, I'm sure you have already thought about it to some extent. And even if you haven’t, that’s completely fine as our aspirations develop at different points of our lives, the earliest being when we were toddlers. At this age, we were naturally curious about the world around us and asked a variety of questions about what we perceived as a surreal environment. It is only when we are met with the question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?”, does reality truly sinks in. Responses to this may include careers like “teachers” or “firefighters”, and although parents tend to think lightly, assuming their child isn’t old enough to make such a decision, a lot of children are genuinely interested in those things. As many would say, “Children are our future”, and that is why people put so much effort into raising them to their best. Yet, do they care and guide out of love for the child itself, or rather its future?

If you were to present your dreams or personal goals, and it does not align with what your parents want for you, maybe they’ll be quick to change their beliefs and support you. Truth be told, a lot of the time they will be quicker to shoot down your aspirations and criticize you. In many cases, some children have already had their lives planned out for them since they were born. This issue also stems from the peers around you, perhaps even those you are close with. They may berate your aspirations, claiming that it is not “stable” or isn’t “worth” the effort. All of this eventually leads us to create new ambitions, ambitions that are more fitted to the “guidelines” that not only our family, but also society places upon us. However, if the future we desire is more influenced by the desires of others, do we really have control over our lives, or are we mere puppets that exist to satisfy them? Like puppets, we replace our beliefs with their beliefs and treat their words as the absolute. It can’t be helped though, people rarely create new paths when an existing one stands in front of them. Like many of our predecessors, we study in order to do well in school, we volunteer in order to appeal to colleges, we get involved in activities to stand out. That is the path engraved for us puppets to walk on mindlessly. This may not apply to a select few, but everything we choose to do is influenced by societal standards, not out of our own volition. Even if you think that doesn’t apply to you, and that your morals are the reasons for your good deeds, chances are success is actually your underlying motive. As puppets, we are no better than soulless husks.

But what if you decide to break free from “the strings of society” and begin to choose your own path: If you are genuinely interested in something, don’t hesitate simply because others personally are not. If you are told what you should do, such as “take this class” or maybe even things that you should not do, don’t always take their words as the absolute. Many people think they know what is best for you, but that's not always the case. Those are a few ways you can start your puppeteer free journey. Things like money, ethics, and expectations are definitely all important, yet they also hinder you by forcing you into things you are not passionate about. Let's say money doesn’t exist and that it was not necessary for survival. Would you still think and act the way you do when it comes to your future? Probably not, as in the absence of this necessity, it would allow you to take on different goals: goals that are more tied to your personal beliefs rather than your instinct to survive. If you’d still have the same mindset, I applaud you for wanting to do something you actually have interest in. But if not, maybe try finding a goal that balances what you want with what you need, or maybe prioritize one over the other. Of course in reality, you do need money in order to not just be satisfied, but also survive at the minimum. Seriously, I’m not trying to force upon you what you need as that would be contradictory, but please do consider money when you think about your future career, even if it’s a very light consideration.

Overall, if you were to take away anything from this little rant: Don’t be a puppet! Find aspirations that honestly appeal to you, and don’t always follow the guidance of others. Those who tell you what you should do are probably sincere, but (as overly stated as it is) no one knows what is best for you better than yourself. Or continue following the instruction and guidance of those around you; it’s not a bad thing for your aspiration to be to satisfy others. The decision of your future is ultimately up to you, whether it be controlled by strings or not!

(This article is satire.)