Society has concocted an abysmal idea that young adults should know the trajectory of their lives and future endeavors at 18, neglecting any form of uncertainty and merely deeming it. 

While my year of 18 showed me the art of newfound freedom – and exactly how to balance it – I was not an individual who knew a thing about what I wanted my future to look like. 

A semester of studying biology, dosage calculations and nutrition revealed that I didn’t enjoy studying science and math daily, nor was I particularly interested in concepts like hypotonic solutions or amino acid breakdowns. 

In the fall of 2022, I faced my biggest ‘crossroad’: I hated my degree and my collegiate career within the first semester. 

I could barely sit in my classes and push myself to pay attention, and while my GPA didn’t suffer, I refused to fathom a future in medicine or science. 

So while spinning a melodrama and a head full of doubt, I sat at one of my life’s most significant ‘crossroads’. What was my next step, and how could I find enjoyment through my pursuits?

Would I persevere and pretend I enjoyed a degree that may offer financial stability, yet push me to my mental limits? 

We often deem these metaphorical crossroads negative entities, a daunting moment where we don’t know what to do or even how to go on.

 We can sulk in these moments, maybe produced by failure or disbelief, but our crossroads provide something more than a moment of anguish, confusion, or self-doubt—they allow us to pivot. 

I pivoted from a pre-BSN route to journalism, where I met my fellow Echonian savants whom I now call my closest confidants. Against all odds, I found a calling at my crossroads. 

My crossroad taught me that I enjoy relaying information, getting to know new people, and satisfying my curiosity by finding out what’s happening in my community. 

Pivoting is a privilege that teaches perseverance and offers the pursuit of an unknown. 

We face endless moments of pivoting, whether it’s a breakup you didn’t see coming, quitting your part-time job, falling out of friendships or some version of a quarter-life crisis – it’s an inevitable we all have to learn how to navigate.

Our crossroads offer opportunities to learn more about ourselves and all the possibilities we could conquer. They’re a roadblock – yes. Yet, they are a moment to embrace our unknowns. 

There’s comfort in a clean slate and several paths that could lead to endless options. 

Although we often carry grief and frustration when our plans don’t align, it’s never a moment for wallowing. Embrace your college crossroads, refuse to wallow in your toughest moments, and pivot when necessary. 

College is a nonlinear entity; there’s no perfect blueprint or perfect plan. While it may be costly to take your time, resist the urge to fall into something you detest. 

Find joy through your pursuits, ambitions and goals; resist the temptation to foster plans that only offer materialistic rewards and momentary happiness.