“I want out of my life,” that’s all I thought about when the career counselor asked me what I wanted to study. “What do you mean, out of your life?” she inquired. “I want to study something that takes me away from my family. I can’t stand them; they don’t understand me and are so different from me. I love to read and enjoy my quiet time, while they are as loud as can be.”
“Uh,” the counselor replied, “that’s not a good reason to select what you are going to do for the rest of your life. Let’s first find what you like and what makes you feel alive, then you can select a university, not just based on running away from your family.”
“I guess that makes sense,” I thought to myself. The thing is, I have no idea what I truly want. Why do we have to make such a serious decision so early in life? What if I make the wrong decision and end up hating my life? Are there any other options?
“Oh sweetheart,” the counselor replied, “we’ve all been in the position you are right now. As lost as you may feel, I can promise you everything is going to be alright. I am here to help, and I am sure you are going to make the right decision. There’s no way you can get it wrong, and if you do, well, there’s nothing that can’t be changed.”
“Let me use my tools and see what we can do,” the counselor finally said.
She gave me a personality test that had a bunch of questions. “Try to answer without analyzing too much; let the answers flow naturally for a better idea.”
After finishing the test, I left the room with a meeting set up for next week. I’ll try not to think too much about my life or the future. Why do I have to take it all so seriously? I guess it would be good to be a little more like my family after all. They are always so easy-going and worry-free that it gets to bother me, their carefree attitude.
Anyway, classes are done for today, and I have to rush to the restaurant; my shift starts at 4 PM. The manager said it was going to be busy tonight.
I am working part-time in the kitchen of a sweet chalet restaurant. Everybody minds their business, but I love the dynamics of the team. We get to interact and joke with each other. There’s this guy, Tony, who is so cute I get red cheeks when he talks to me. He is in today. I love it when he is around; it really makes my day. You could say I am in love, and it sounds like it. He is two years my senior. He told me the other night he is planning a tour to Europe before he starts college. That is such a great idea. I could join them if it weren’t for that rush I always feel to make things how everyone expects of me.
It was really busy tonight; I’ll be closing the restaurant, and Tony is also here. I can’t wait to talk to him.
“Hi Eve!” Tony said, “I haven’t seen you tonight. How was your shift?”
“Great, thanks for asking. I was so busy that time flew by,” I shyly replied.
That was enough for me to dream about him tonight.
But little did I know, my life was about to take an extraordinary turn that night. While sweeping the floors in the dining room, I stumbled upon a round box hidden under a table. It resembled an old vanity mirror, seemingly a century old. Curiosity overcame me, and without a second thought, I opened the box. What happened next was beyond belief.
Inside, I saw myself sitting in the counselor’s office. Although I couldn’t hear her voice, I knew what she was saying, “You seem to be an introvert, Eve. You value solitude and quiet environments. Your love for reading suggests a strong inclination towards learning and intellectual development. Fields like literature, psychology, or library science could be fitting choices for you.”
In disbelief, I wondered, was this a magical mirror showing the future? But why did it show me that scene and not another? I snapped the box shut and continued sweeping, my mind racing with anticipation about what else it might reveal.
I was spellbound by the box. Upon opening it a second time, it showed me a childhood memory of running in kindergarten with my friends. The next glimpse was of the future, where I sat by the beach, absorbed in a book. This was both confusing and exhilarating. I realized the box responded to my thoughts, showing me moments in time as I imagined them.
But as the mirror revealed more of my past and future, a sense of disillusionment crept over me. Is this what I wanted? A magical mirror dictating my path? No, I decided. I am the master of my destiny, the captain of my ship, and I need no external guidance to chart my course.
The next morning, filled with determination and courage, I made the most significant decision of my teenage life. I wouldn’t rush into choosing what to study. Instead, I would take time to explore and understand myself, free from external influences, be it a counselor or a magical mirror.
That summer, I embarked on a world journey with my closest friends, experiencing a life full of magic, and meeting fascinating people and places. When I returned home, I reconciled with my family and myself, understanding that the journey of self-discovery is endless, regardless of age.
As for the magical mirror? The following morning, an enigmatic old lady visited the restaurant, inquiring specifically about me. She knew I had found the mirror, and it was no coincidence. Looking into my eyes, she asked, “Did my mirror find you?”
Also read: Beyond the Surface – The Golden Lamb