I am a very nostalgic person. I am the individual who wrote in diaries for years when I was younger and still reads them occasionally to revel in my childhood trials and tribulations all over again. Also, I am the person who watches old home videos because it is nice to see the younger version of myself. To marvel at my innocence, my eyes full of hope for what the future had in store. Throughout my life thus far, I have collected several mementos from my childhood that remind myself of my prior experiences including, videos, art projects, stuffed animals, and even comic strips.
 
My comic strip collection is a group composed of comics found in my local newspaper from the mid-2010s. My collection ranges from the classic comics like Frank and Earnest and Bizarro that have been around for nearly 50 years to the more modern Pearls Before Swine appearing at the turn of the century. When I was recently perusing my comic collection, I found a comic called Zits. The comic covers the life of the Duncan family: a mom, Connie, father, Walt, and their teenage son, Jeremy, who always drives them up the walls with his antics. I am sure we all did that at times to our parents during those years.
 
While I am no longer a teenager, I always find Jeremy’s perspective relatable. Often, he looks at the world through the same lens I would. That is one reason why I enjoy reading the Zits comic strip. When I was looking over my old Zits comics, I found a strip that exemplifies this notion. There had been a short series titled, “The 101 Things You Should Do Before You Are 16.” Essentially, they highlight Jeremy doing various things and the life lessons he learns along the way. And while my local newspaper did not post the entire 101 things to do, there were some gems.
 
Number 19, for example, states that you should create a vision of your future. Jeremy is mowing the lawn and looking downright exasperated that he has to complete this chore. His sweatband droops low on his forehead, and his body hunches over as if mowing the lawn is the most back-breaking task conceivable. There is also a thought bubble emerging from his head, a vision of himself on a boat aptly named No Lawn. In Jeremy's vision of the future, he is relaxing on the back sun deck, clear skies above his head, and his feet up relaxing. And, of course, not a single lawn to mow in sight. I relate to Jeremy. I am not keen on having to cut a lot of grass in my future either.
 
While every person has a different future in mind, this is a very thought-provoking comic. I do not think many teenagers think that far ahead, nor many young adults for that matter. At the very least, planning for the future feels like a daunting task, and at worst, near impossible. There are so many things that could and do change during our lives that are outside of our control. We could lose a source of income, a family member, or a physical capability. Countless people face challenges that force them to adjust their savings, travel, and family plans as new trials arise and cause carefully laid plans to fall apart.
 
While there are many things in our lives outside of our control, that does not mean that we should not prepare and live our lives without future goals and aspirations in mind. Whether you are 13 or 35, think about what you want your life to become. And as Elbert Hubbard once said, "The best way to prepare for life is to begin to live." Take actionable steps to reach your future goals, make a mood board of your plans for the upcoming year or two, write your future into existence in a journal or talk about it to a friend. It is never too late to start or too early to begin living the life you want to live.

– Vanessa Davis
 
Vanessa is a master’s student at the Bush School of Government and Public Service.