Another Turning Point; A Fork Stuck in the Road

For the most part, the "next step" in my life has always been pretty clear cut. I've sort of always had a vision for myself -- goals, wishes, motivations -- and there was usually just one option that made the most sense. Most of the time, there wasn't much of a choice anyway. School for example. My 8th grade "graduation" ceremony only meant the start of high school. State Compulsory School Attendance Laws didn't exactly give me much leeway until the age of 18. And well, college wasn't exactly optional after a college-preparatory school like K through life.

I've heard that a majority of students change their major at least three times during college. I changed it once: from undeclared to Psychology. While college is a time for social and academic exploration, my exploration was within the limits of a foundational and sector requirements. And throughout my four years, I have taken pride in the fact that you can really do "anything" with a major like Psychology. It's pretty characteristic of my personality, since I'm always reluctant to close doors (figurative).

Well, you sure can do "anything" with a major like Psychology, which is why I recently found myself making what I have identified to be the most difficult decision of my life so far. I quite literally was standing at a fork in the road. A rope in the most intense of tug-of-war games. Two completely different paths with incomparable end results, no one objectively "better" than the other. The more advice I received, the more I realized that I was the only person who could make the right decision for myself.

For the first time in my life, I found myself trying to think into the vast open space that is the rest of my life. Completely uncharted territory. Where do I see myself (geographically and emotionally) in x years? What doors will be opened? What doors will be closed? What types of feedback will I receive?

As I sit here reflecting on my decision, it is clear to me that there was no right or wrong. While the guy sitting next to me may have made the completely opposite choice, at this point in my life, I know in my heart that this was right for me.

More than anything, this experience has forced me to think about who I am as a person more than I ever have before. I learned more than I have learned in any class. Ever. It was almost like meeting a new person. Is this what the rest of life is going to be like? If so, I'm pretty damn excited.