Before graduating from high school, I had my whole life planned out. I accepted a softball scholarship at a school in Florida, the state I had always dreamed of living in. I would study political science to prepare for Law School and spend my weekends studying on the beach. It was the ideal plan for me.

That was until I suffered a career-ending injury that prevented me from playing softball again. I had two months to find a new school, create a new plan, and ultimately find a new purpose. 

As an eighteen-year-old, I had never felt more pressure in my life. I always dreamed of going to college, having new experiences, and exploring new ideas, and softball had always been my gateway there. 

So, quickly and unhesitantly, I chose the closest school to home, the University of Indianapolis, and majored in business because it sounded like a decent replacement plan. 

However, in my third year at the University of Indianapolis, my dissatisfaction with my own life hit me. I went from being what I thought was the happiest I had ever been to understanding I was indeed the most depressed I had ever been. I did not have a clear vision for myself, my values, or my motivations. It quickly became the most pivotal point of my life to understand self-efficacy down to its simplest form. 

I self-sabotaged most, if not all, of my relationships, went from business school to pre-physical therapy to public health, to not attending class for two months because of my severe depression and indecisiveness, and ultimately dropped out and moved back home. I was unclear about who I was, what I wanted, or what was happening in my life. 

After taking a gap semester to nanny my nieces full-time, interning at a non-profit organization, working in a hospital, and trying a new lifestyle, I decided I was too close to graduating from college to quit while I still had the chance. I transferred my credits to IU-I for the summer of 2023. From this point, the building blocks of my values, visions, and goals began to form. 

I quickly realized that all my goals and dreams were lies I told myself. I wasted another year trying to live someone else’s dream. It was not until the fall of 2024 that I met with an academic advisor who introduced me to the endless opportunities offered by a General Studies degree.

I decided to change my major to general studies with a minor in medical humanities and health sciences because of my internal calling to create equitable healthcare and social justice. It was not until the last six months that I started envisioning a future for myself, which motivated and inspired me to get back on my feet.

Holistic health exploration suits my interests and goals. Therefore, I have adopted a new lifestyle to better care for myself and my relationships and reach my goals. My general studies degree has been a complex and unexpected journey, but one that saved my life and fueled me with purpose again.