From Degrees to Dreams: My 24-Year-Old Odyssey
The clock strikes 8 AM, yet the achievement I clutched so tightly, my engineering degrees, feel cold and distant. A hollowness echoes in my chest, a stark contrast to the vibrant world beckoning outside. Like many at 24, I stand at a crossroads. Independence, a dream shimmering just beyond reach, clashes with the unspoken pressure to "settle down." My soul craves adventure, whispers of exotic lands dance in my head, yet fear and confusion hold me tethered. It's a familiar story, isn't it? We chase degrees, tick societal boxes, but somewhere along the way, the path feels pre-written, not ours to own. I, too, am no stranger to this dissonance. A civil engineer by qualification, I embarked on a PhD, propelled by an undeniable curiosity, yet unsure of where it ultimately leads. Why? The answer itself dances just beyond my grasp. This path, though intellectually stimulating, feels disconnected from the deeper yearnings for freedom and exploration that simmer withi...