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I am seventeen years old, I sometimes feel as if I am called to become a nun, because I believe monastic life might be an answer to living a life fully dedicated to God. I am confused between that thought and  a desire for a life in the world.

To live a spiritual life is to follow God's commandments and be close to Him, no matter where you live. Monastic life is a call that is not for everyone. It does have its blessings, but living within the temporal world has other kinds of blessings too. Nothing in the Holy Bible says that monastic life is the way  to heaven. Monks and nuns are tempted more than any one in the world. You are still young and you need to finish school before making such an important decision in life. Most nunneries require a candidate to have at least a high school degree. Do not think of a nunnery as an escape from the world and temptation, because it is not. Our Lord Jesus Christ prayed to the Father saying, "I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one" (Jn 17:15). God does not want us to escape from the devil but to be able to protect ourselves from him. Living a righteous life in the world and obeying God's commandments is our way to the kingdom of heaven. Our Lord Jesus Christ tells us that on Judgment day, He will separate His sheep from the goats "Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 'for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 'I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me'" (Mt 25:34-40).