Unlearning the myth of “the perfect” path

Written by: Yordanos Mengesha

“What do you want to be?” used to be my favorite question every time we started a new school year, a new lesson, or any chance to introduce myself. I always had a long list of answers — a pilot, a doctor, an engineer, or honestly, whatever my older sister dreamed of becoming. I was her proudest little copycat.

Even after stepping out of her shadow, I still had countless dreams, countless things I wanted to be and do. That is, until I reached THE day, the day I actually had to decide what I wanted to pursue. I never imagined that choosing one path could be so difficult. But it was. Incredibly difficult.

I felt like I had to make the “perfect” choice — one that would guarantee a good job after graduation, make my parents proud, earn me respect in society, and bring lifelong fulfillment. I wanted it to be flawless. But in chasing that perfection, I lost myself. The major I chose ended up draining me, and the worst part was not even understanding what went wrong or where I had misstepped.

That’s when I realized something important: a career path isn’t a straight line. It twists, turns, rises, and dips. It changes shape as we grow. I’m still learning that truth every single day.

So, to my fellow perfectionists who are desperately trying to plan the “perfect” career — it’s okay to pause. It’s okay to turn around. It’s okay to stand still for a while. You have so much life ahead of you, and it’s all yours to shape. It’s never too late to start again.