Riley Matthews' hand has never trembled so much as it is poised above the paper filled to the brim with black ink from her pen. "How's that essay coming, Riley?" she hears her mother Topanga calling from the other room. Riley puts a pause on her deep, heavy thoughts.
"Mom? Can you come in here for a second? I need an opinion," Riley calls back to her mother, hoping the older woman will be able to help. Topanga finally peeks her head around the wood surface of her daughter's bedroom door and Riley turns around in her desk chair. "How did you know that you wanted to be an attorney, Mom?"
"What's this about, Riley?" Topanga asks, walking further into Riley's bedroom to sit down on the bed; patting the seat next to her.
Riley obeys, flopping around a bit before settling in. "I know you and Dad told me to follow my heart but what if my heart wants to go in a different direction?"
Topanga thinks about her daughter's question for a few moments then answers, "I think you just need to see where you think it will take you, Riley. Just remember that it's your fate in your hands and it's up to you & fate to work that out together."
Her daughter's grin is broad and beautiful at the same time as Riley rushes to her feet. "Mom, can I go see what Maya is up to?"
"You may, Riley Mae," Topanga says, returning her daughter's smile as Riley flounces out of her room in order to go visit her best friend. After Riley leaves, Topanga moves over to Riley's desk to see several sticky notes with three different major options written on them.
"History teacher." "Guidance counselor." "Someone who will make a difference."