Hi, I'm a 19-year-old going into my third year of college, and I have no idea what I want to do with my life. Luckily, I think there are loads more people just like me... I hope.
I was basically raised by a small tribe of doctors and because of this, medicine is the only track I've ever really known or considered. Because of this, I've been trapped in an endless cycle of just never knowing what I truly want to be. I've had countless identity crises, breakdowns, and days where I've just lost hope. If you're also stuck in a cycle of endless uncertainty, keep reading. Though I can't give you any solutions, at least you'll know you're not alone.
I've been contemplating the medical field for as long as I can remember. Even in middle school, I was confused about what I wanted to be when I grew up. Now, as a junior in college, nothing has changed. I go through these moments where I feel overwhelming hope and motivation. Like nothing will stop me from finding the cure for cancer, building my own hospital from the ground up, and literally winning every physicians award possible.
But then reality strikes and I realize more than a couple things.
One, my GPA is basically nonexistent. Two, I suck at all things biology. And three, I don't want to be in school for 5 billion years. So, of course, this inner turmoil causes me to reject any possible solution to this major crisis. Here's where everyone under the sun tries to give me life advice.
The number one thing people tell me is that there's still time. Rationally, this makes a lot of sense, but I feel like I've always put myself on a timeline. 4 years of college, x amount of years in med school, married at 24, and first kid by 26. This is how I've always planned my life. But I'm slowly starting to realize that people take many paths and pit stops to get to their dream careers.
There is no time limit.
Another thing I struggle with grasping is the idea that you don't have to be great right away. I've always wanted to be the best at whatever I end up doing, but that doesn't happen overnight. It's okay to set the bar high for yourself as long as you know every achievement is an important milestone.
Going back to the time thing, I'm really going to try new things. Because just because I've completed 75 percent of the pre-med track doesn't mean I can't experiment with computer science, business, and marketing classes. So what if it takes me an extra year to graduate? At least I'll know what I want to do. Also, getting jobs and internships really isn't that hard. I just have to put a little more effort into it.
Hopefully, you feel a little less alone—or maybe you just feel bad for me and my pathetic life. Either way, I hope this article helps someone realize there's still time.
