I used to think that changing my career path in my twenties meant I’d somehow fallen behind – but I eventually learned that letting myself pivot was the best thing I could do.

Right out of high school, I jumped into the Interior Design program at my local college. On paper, it seemed perfect: creativity, technical skill, and variety. In reality, my first year left me unsure, overwhelmed, and quietly questioning if this was what I really wanted.

I took a year off, hoping for clarity. A year later, I still didn’t know.

I returned to finish my diploma because I wanted to see it through – and because the skills were valuable, even if I wasn’t sure the industry was right for me. But heading into my third and final year, I still felt stuck. I wasn’t excited or aligned; something was off.

Everything changed during a summer job in my college’s marketing department. Suddenly, I was filming TikToks, hosting interviews, taking photos at events, and helping promote programs and student life – and I loved it.

For the first time in years, work didn’t feel like work. It felt natural, exciting, and actually fun. A few months in, I realized this was the direction I wanted to go.

Even with that clarity, I didn’t want to throw away my design diploma. So, I finished my final year strong while still working in marketing as a student.

After graduating, I stayed at the college on a one-year contract running social media for a different department. I hosted interviews, took photos, and gained real, practical experience. When the contract ended, I got my current job in PR at South Essex Community Council. It was everything I had hoped for: meaningful work, community impact, and room to grow professionally.

Still, that little voice in my head whispered:

“You’re behind. Everyone else has it all figured out.”

Even though I’m glad I graduated and the skills I learned were useful, I was embarrassed that I had completed a program I wasn’t actually using. That embarrassment then turned into hesitation when it came time to go back to school. I delayed applying for a whole year, worried that at 24 I was “just starting” my degree, uneasy about pivoting while everyone around me seemed settled, and frustrated that my path didn’t look perfect.

Eventually, I realized the truth:

It’s never embarrassing to start on your own timeline – it’s not about being late or behind. What matters is trusting your path and not letting fear hold you back.

So, I applied. I started my communications degree part-time, online, while working full-time in PR. Almost immediately, the embarrassment faded – not because it disappeared, but because I could finally see that my path was mine for a reason.

Everyone moves at their own pace. Everyone grows differently. Some people figure out their career path at 18, some at 28, some at 48. Every version is valid.

At 25, I’m proud of my journey. Interior Design shaped how I think creatively. Marketing lit a spark I didn’t expect. Public Relations gave me direction and confidence. Returning to school gave me the foundation I thought I’d missed.

Your path doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. It just has to feel right for you. And if pivoting is what gets you closer to the life you want, there’s nothing embarrassing about that at all.