Week 5 -- Taking Risks

Week 5 Prompt: Describe a time you took a risk. How did you overcome feelings of inadequacy, fear, and/or vulnerability? What did you learn from the experience?

The biggest risk I've ever taken was transferring to UCD and into a completely new major after 3 years of undergrad at a different school. I was on a great career path studying cellular and molecular biology, and I was excelling in my classes and lab job at a highly ranked university. However, I was not happy, and I knew that what I was doing was not aligned with the lifestyle I wanted to live (in a bio job there's not really consistent hours, pay, or free time to relax and pursue hobbies). I decided to not only switch majors, but also to move across the country where I would practically start college over again. I felt vulnerable in this position, and worried that I wouldn't be 'good enough' at my new career path, but the knowledge that I chose to actively change my situation to reflect my best future has kept me secure in the fact that I made the right choice. I'm happier now than I've been in ages, and I actually have time to do the things I love! The risk was 100% worth it.