One of my favorite hypothetical questions I like to ask my friends is, “If you had the chance to see where you are in 10 years, would you take it?”

When I first asked it one year ago, I had a clear answer of my own in mind: Of course I would take it! I like to think of myself as a pretty goal-oriented person as setting goals help me clearly understand what I’m working towards. In 10 years, I hope to be working as a general dentist, living by the beach and continuing to explore my hobbies like baking.

However, as I gathered more responses to the question, I gained more perspectives. One perspective in particular that stuck with me was that there’s no point in seeing into the future because what if you end up disappointed? What if it’s different from what you had hoped for?

As a senior in my final weeks of high school, I’ve realized that things can change a lot over time — even within just four years. Entering high school, I had a general idea of what I wanted for my future: play volleyball for all four years, develop a passion for engineering like my sister and dad and eventually attend my dream college in Southern California. 

I think that if my freshman self saw where I am right now, I would’ve been disappointed and confused. Given that I quit volleyball two years ago, felt lost career-wise throughout half of high school and ended up committing to a school only an hour away, things definitely turned out to be a lot different than I had initially planned.

However, choosing to only see a glimpse of where I am today would overlook the crucial moments that have shaped me. I wouldn’t be able to realize that leaving my sport behind ultimately allowed me to make more time for my commitments like journalism, where I’ve built some of my most valuable friendships and dedicated countless hours editing. I would fail to realize how discovering that my interests in making handcrafts and science intersect with dentistry ultimately fueled my love for the career. I also wouldn’t be able to see myself falling in love with UC Berkeley and the opportunities that have been around me in the Bay Area all along.

Though things didn’t exactly work out as planned, all of these events eventually guided me to where I am today, and I can confidently say that I wouldn’t trade my experience for anything.

One continuous theme throughout my high school experience has been my love for Lana Del Rey, specifically her song “Margaret.” As the No. 1 song on my 2025 Spotify Wrapped, its lyrics reassure me that things will always be OK. One of the key repeating lines is “When you know, you know,” which I interpret as eventually understanding what’s right for you when the time is right.

As much as I enjoy reflecting on my momentous memories full of joy, it’s equally as important to highlight the times full of uncertainty, whether I felt hurt after my first friendship breakup, consumed by pressure from school or isolated and lost.

The most important part of experiencing hardship is getting through it and learning something from it. I’m grateful that experiencing a fallout with my best friend taught me a much-needed lesson about the importance of independence. I’m grateful that attending a summer program that balanced academics and enjoyment led me to rediscover my hobbies. I’m grateful that experiencing some of the most excruciating feelings of loneliness during my studies in junior year taught me how the healthiest and most productive lifestyle requires finding time for myself rather than completely burying myself in academics and stress.

Lana’s wise words reassure me that things will eventually all work out in the end: “So if you don’t know, don’t give up because you never know what the new day might bring. Maybe tomorrow, you’ll know.” Maybe tomorrow (or in 10 years or 50 years for that matter) I’ll realize something entirely new.

Perspective only develops with time and actually living through the moments, full of the highs and lows of life, that allow you to reach the realizations that shape you. Every once in a while, I like to read through my old journal entries. I can’t help but smile when I look back at the times when I thought getting a top score on the SAT was the ultimate goal (I also see the irony in the fact that I took the test five times and ultimately ended up committing to a test-blind school). In the end, all things pass, and new journeys begin.

I’m a firm believer that everyone ends up exactly where they’re meant to be. You’re constantly surrounded by circumstances out of your control, and things aren’t always going to go your way. The most important thing is to make the best out of whatever situation you’re in and to trust your gut, explore your interests and embrace the opportunities surrounding you.

If I were to answer this question today, I would choose not to see myself in 10 years. Who knows? In 10 years I might be pursuing an entirely different career and chasing foreign hobbies. I fully trust my decision-making to guide me to my future, as it’s brought me to where I am today — a place I may not have chosen from day one, but a place I’m proud of.