I attended college at the University of California, Santa Barbara, for five years because I struggled to decide on a major. Like many young people, I entered college with big dreams but little certainty about who I wanted to become. For a long time, I believed I wanted to be a doctor. The idea of helping others, earning respect, and achieving success appealed to me, but as my studies progressed, I realized that the path did not truly fit who I was. The intense pressure, long commitment, and emotional demands made me question whether I was pursuing medicine for the right reasons.
Taking extra time at UCSB allowed me to grow, reflect, and better understand myself. Although I did not follow the path I originally imagined, those years were not wasted. College taught me independence, self-awareness, and the importance of making honest choices about my future. Learning that it was okay to change my mind was one of the most valuable lessons I gained. Instead of forcing myself into a role that did not feel right, I chose to listen to my instincts and accept that finding my direction was part of my journey, not a failure.
For a long time, I believed I wasn’t smart enough to become a doctor. I struggled with higher math and advanced sciences, and that struggle convinced me I simply didn’t have what it took to pass medical school. Instead of chasing something that felt impossible, I chose a law-related major—not because I wanted to go to law school, but because I wanted something that sounded impressive on paper. At the same time, I was genuinely interested in nutrition and would have loved to pursue it more formally, but at the University of California, Santa Barbara there were no minors available. I’ve always thought of myself as having a “minor” in nutrition anyway, even though officially I didn’t. That disconnect between what interested me and what I actually studied stayed with me and quietly shaped how I viewed my own abilities and choices.
After college, I ended up working for State Farm Insurance, where having any college degree was enough to qualify for a higher-paying position. That felt strange to me. I often thought I didn’t deserve the job just because I had spent five years in college—especially since my parents paid for my education. During interviews, employers treated graduation as a major achievement, while I minimized it in my own mind. Still, I did study, I earned good grades, and whether I wanted to admit it or not, that effort counted for something. At State Farm, I worked as a claims adjuster, estimating property damage and writing checks for people after losses. I was even directly involved in the aftermath of the 1994 earthquake, visiting damaged homes and helping people receive immediate financial relief during an incredibly stressful time.
Later, I worked for Merck Pharmaceuticals and Realtor.com, adding even more variety to my career. None of these jobs followed a straight or predictable path, but each one taught me something valuable. I learned that intelligence isn’t defined by excelling in one academic track, and success isn’t limited to a single profession. Most importantly, I learned that the real point of life—and of work—is helping other people wherever you are, however you can. No matter where I ended up, the moments that mattered most were the ones where I was useful, supportive, and able to make someone else’s situation a little better.
I remember struggling to figure out what I wanted to do so a college class had me read WHO MOVED MY CHEESE, get it here.
It was also in college where I realized for me, there could and would be no more bullying from females, as I mentioned in my blog here.
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