...and perceived a bunch of pressure from members of my ward. Likely some of the "perceived pressure" was just in my own mind as I wrestled with the fear of going. I'm not sure how I would've reacted if my parents pressured me to go (to whatever degree and most assuredly with good intentions) but in the end it took me a couple of years of struggling before I found the desire to go and at the age of 21 I did go. To my parents credit I had a life changing experience due to the fact that I was going solely because I found out how much I loved The Lord and wanted to serve Him.

I see where it's not always that way with some missionaries who go out into the field. There's a lot of heavy burdens a missionary acquires when he/she doesn't want to be out there. I know the hope by well-meaning parents is that they'll find themselves while they serve and that does happen sometimes but sometimes it works the opposite too.