Ever feel like you’re stuck in a routine, doing what’s expected of you but never really feeling alive? You wake up, go to work, and check things off the to-do list, but something’s missing. Maybe you’re not unhappy, but you’re certainly not thriving. It’s like you’re just getting through the day, not truly living it.

I’ve been there. Let me tell you how I ended up on a path I didn’t expect—and how I finally learned to take control of my own life.

When I was in high school, I had this dream. I wanted to be an archaeologist. I imagined myself on exciting digs, discovering ancient fossils, exploring historical ruins, and experiencing the world in a way that was meaningful to me. It was my passion, my purpose.

But life doesn’t always follow the plan, does it? I remember a dinner with my mom and relatives where they asked me what I wanted to do after high school. Proudly, I shared my dream of becoming an archaeologist. My mom, a dentist, wasn’t thrilled with the idea. “Why don’t you consider becoming a dentist?” she suggested. “It’s a stable job, and I’m sure you’d be great at it.”

I didn’t see myself as a dentist, but I could see how proud she’d be if I followed her footsteps. So, I took the safe route, went to dentistry school, graduated with honors, and even got a scholarship. But deep inside, I knew that this wasn’t my calling. It was a good life, but it wasn’t my life.

After years of feeling disconnected from my work, I made a choice to explore what truly excited me. I took a leap of faith and switched to research. Fast forward to today, and I find........

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