what's on my mind

so something's really been bothering me lately. why are so many things that we do in life based on age? people are constantly categorizing what they expect your accomplishments to be at each stage of your life. why? shouldn't your accomplishments be based on what you're capable of? why are people so afraid of really going for things and following their dreams, no matter how old they are? i know i get frustrated when people underestimate me because i'm young. i feel like i'm constantly proving people wrong. like, God forbid i start college when i'm 15! what about starting college when you're 60? does that really make a difference? you're still at a completely different level than the average college student. maybe you're more mature than them, but academically, who expects you to do better than the fresh young minds of 18 year olds? take my friend janet, for example. she's 60 (give or take) and she's decided to come back to college to finish her degree. she's struggled a lot, but i admire her all the more for doing something out of the ordinary. shouldn't we encourage people to be different? why do we have these invisible life schedules that everyone is expected to follow? why should 16 year olds still be in high school if they're capable of more? why should 60 year olds stay in retirement when they still have unfulfilled dreams? people need to open their minds and stop expecting everyone to fit into their little cookie cutter. cause like it or not, there's always gonna be someone who breaks the mold.