My name is Heidi, and I am possibly one of the most indecisive people you will ever meet. As I stare into the blank screen of my Word document for this introductory blog post, my mind branches into many different directions. Should I explain my process in choosing a major? The unexpected ways a Scripps education has changed my life? And my excitement in embarking on a new journey abroad?

To borrow a friend’s apt description, I am often afflicted with an abundance of unfocused energy. Sometimes, my mind refuses to be silenced. The ideas and desires push to the surface like disobedient children clamoring to be heard. I read this blog marveling at the ability of my fellow bloggers’ decisiveness. For me, the pressure to choose a topic means that I must narrow my focus and let the other great ideas fall away, when there is so much I want to reflect on and not enough space in one post.

Then I realize, doesn’t my anguish in choosing what to blog about mirror the career dilemmas that Scripps women perpetually face? Like many of my peers, I have trouble deciding on one career path because I do not want to rule out any of my interests. Here at a liberal arts college, we are encouraged to explore a myriad of options, each more fascinating than the last. But is there a downside to having too many choices? Though my major is in politics, the classes I have taken outside of my major include creative writing, Asian American literature, and two foreign languages (Spanish and Mandarin)—and that’s just in two semesters. Each of these classes has not only inspired endless intellectual growth and self reflection, but has also left me hungry for new knowledge and experiences.

Though I have become infinitely more aware of my different options, I am nowhere closer to settling on a post-graduation path compared to the timid first year that arrived on campus three years ago. In two years, I envision myself as a community organizer, marching for worker’s rights in downtown LA. I picture myself teaching English to schoolchildren in northwestern China, cultivating a bond with a land and language I left behind many years ago. I even embrace the dream of becoming a novelist, honing my craft in some obscure cabin in the woods. Though all of these visions contain pieces of my desires and passions, none seem to be able to encompass everything that I love and want to do with my life. How do I reconcile my international background, fascination with different cultures, love of art, and passion for social justice?

One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned at Scripps is the ability to break down the boundaries between disciplines to recognize their interrelatedness and relevance to the world. As I approach the end of junior year, I find my passion for nearly everything under the humanities and social sciences fully intact. Even if I sometimes envy those who are good at making life decisions, I reassure myself that too much passion is always a gift. I chose to study politics because I believe in our responsibility as humans to create a better society. But studying politics at Scripps has taught me that progressive change requires imagination. Why do I have to choose between international politics, art, and writing? I am not bound to one path to make meaningful contributions to the world. Instead, I can create my own path, even though I do not know its shape or destination. I will board my flight to Granada in less than 5 hours, and to borrow a platitude—the sky’s the limit. I am excited to explore the unknown, and yes—maybe even make some decisions along the way.