By Kevin Tran
“What do you want to be when you grow up?”
I’ve been asked that question more times than I can count. When I was younger, the answer was easy, something big, like becoming a movie producer, but as I got older, the question felt heavier. It stopped being playful and began to feel like a deadline.
It’s a question we’ve been asked since childhood, but as we grow and change, so will our responses. For many, the pressure to have it all figured out by 18 is overwhelming. But not knowing what to do is more common than you think.
I remember sitting in a Medical Society club meeting, hearing my fellow club members confidently talk about becoming doctors, engineers, or business majors, and that scared me. It felt like everyone else had a map, and I was still trying to find the starting point.
From a young age, we’re taught to believe that we must have a clear vision of our future: what jobs we want, what college we’ll attend and what we’ll be doing 10 years from now. In reality, our lives don’t follow a fixed blueprint.
Most adults don’t stick to a single career path. In fact, according to a summary of labor research, the average person will have about 12 jobs over the course of their life. This suggests how common it is to explore and change directions as we grow. Many students switch majors in college, explore new interests or discover passions they never even considered before.
The truth is that only a few people have it all figured out early on. Forcing yourself to choose “the one perfect path” is unrealistic and often leads to stress and burnout. Feeling that pressure is normal. It’s okay to take your time and try new things. In fact, that uncertainty can be one of your greatest advantages.
UNCERTAINTY = OPPORTUNITY
Not knowing what you’ll do in life isn’t a setback; it’s an open door.
When you’re unsure of your path, you’re more likely to explore, try new things and you might discover you have a hidden talent or interest. That kind of curiosity leads to growth and self-discovery.
Even some of the most successful people didn’t always have it figured out. For example, Steve Jobs, the former chairman and CEO of Apple Inc., dropped out of college before co-founding Apple. Oprah Winfrey, the host of the top-rated, award-winning “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” switched her career path more than once before becoming a global icon.
You don’t need to have it all figured out, just the willingness to take the next step and explore a variety of things.
FOCUS ON WHO YOU ARE, NOT JUST WHAT YOU WANT TO BE
With many job titles and college majors, it’s easy to forget that what you do isn’t the same as who you are. Instead of stressing over a dream career, focus on building the kind of person you want to become.
To dive deeper into yourself, consider exploring hobbies, classes and experiences that genuinely excite you. Join a club, try a new elective, volunteer or take on an internship, even if it ends up not being your thing.
Every step, even the “wrong” ones, teaches you more about yourself. The better you know yourself, the easier it’ll be to recognize the opportunities that actually fit you later on.
EMBRACE THE JOURNEY, NOT THE DESTINATION
There’s no need to have your entire future mapped out right now. The pressure to find a “final answer” can make you miss the value of the process itself. Every experience, whether it’s a success or a setback, helps to shape who you will become.
What matters most is that you keep growing, learning and adapting. The journey is where you figure things out, and that journey is just as important as wherever you’re headed.
