Just So You Know, It’s Never Too Late For Change

This past year I learned a tremendously valuable lesson that has shaped my current perspective on life. Life doesn’t always follow the course you planned. And I learned that failure is necessary for growth.

If I’m being honest, I really didn’t know what I wanted to do coming right out of high school. I initially thought I wanted to go East or West coast, but after I saw the steep increase in price of going out of state, I decided against it. I eventually ended up choosing the Colorado School of Mines (thinking about it, the potential engineer salary may have influenced that choice just a little bit). I thought I had my life all figured out and that it was the perfect choice. But like the saying goes: man makes plans and God laughs.

As it turns out, last semester I probably hit the lowest low. I quickly realized that I absolutely hated the prospect of becoming an engineer. Let me just say that Calculus and I did not like each other at all. Maybe being a little over-dramatic at the time, I thought my life was over and that I was never going to find a career that would truly make me happy.

But then I saw a light at the end of the tunnel. A good friend told me, God wouldn’t put you in a situation you can’t handle. I realized that, yes, maybe I wasn’t meant to stay at Mines the entirety of my college career, but I was meant to experience my first semester at college there. The answer to my uncertainty came in the form of my parents encouraging me to transfer to a school where my degree options would not be limited. I was so conflicted about the possibility of transferring because I met the most incredible people at Mines and I absolutely loved my roommate. But if I hadn’t taken that risk, I would not have been able to witness the magic of second chances, new beginnings.

I came to the realization that money and pursuing society’s idea of what success should look like would not make me truly happy. I decided that 2018 was going to be a new school and a fresh start. I decided that I was going to pursue my passions with photography, focus on my nonprofit, and follow my heart.

I can strongly say that I am in a better place now with a more positive outlook. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. Why waste a second of your life not pursuing what you’re passionate about?

It’s never too late for change.