Here is the problem. The world is changing around us faster than we can follow the old "ways" or stereotypes. Get a job and aim for retirement is not an option and was not even for my generation (Gen X, 50 years old). For my generation there was still be a drop out and travel the world never settling down but that is harder in today's world. So, my advice is this and I also live by this: Find something you love doing. Find how doing that thing can contribute to society and you can make enough money doing it. By enough money, I mean how much money you need at the time. For a single person who say wants to travel and does not want to have an expensive house and car, this could be a little money. For somebody who wants three kids and a luxury house and life, it will be more money. Find what your lifestyle is and what it is going to cost you. Find other things that you love doing and balance them with the thing you are going to earn money doing. Throw the ideas about this being a nine to five traditional "job" out of the window. Be curious about the world around you. Those that notice changes first often get the opportunities to take advantage of them. I got into IT early and it really helped me. Look at the trends. Keep learning and adapting. Any career or non-career (beach bum for instance) choice that you make today will most likely change significantly within the next 5 years. Commit but stay flexible. Very important, have fun. How should you live your life? Like it is the only one you have and having as much fun as possible while contributing something valuable to society is the only answer. Don't let them get you down. Be the change you think is needed in the world. You are young and the whole adventure is in front of you. Try and stay positive about it. Being positive about life and the future is the best gift I ever gave myself. And yes, it is a choice. Learn through your mistakes. We all make them. Don't make them twice. Pick new mistakes to make each time...lol. That way you learn and the successes will come with practice. Peer review your life! Ask your trusted friends, older people, younger people, sometimes strangers, "How am I doing? What would you do differently if you were me? Do you have any useful tips?" Do it, it is liberating to have an outside perspective on your life. You have taken the first step with this post. Keep up the good work. Find a good mentor and keep looking for them your whole life. There are some things that you will be amazing at, some that you will do okay and somethings that you will be shit at. Focus on what you are good and and PEER Review! Hope these things help. I was so full of "oh, fuck, what the fuck am I going to do" at 19 and it all worked out okay. Life is fun and every decade I get through I enjoy more and more. Good luck out there.