The Pressure to Choose the ‘Perfect Path’—And Why I’m Still Figuring It Out

At Penn, ambition is everywhere. It’s in the way people introduce themselves—“I’m pre-law,” “I’m doing M&T,” “I’m recruiting for consulting or finance.” It’s in the LinkedIn posts, the pre-professional club meetings, the “Where are you interning this summer?” questions that start before midterms even hit.

And somewhere along the way, I found myself feeling like I had to have a clear path, too.

I saw people going after consulting, finance, law—all the “prestige” tracks Penn is known for. And I started to wonder if that’s what I should be doing. Not necessarily because I was passionate about those fields, but because they seemed like the safe bet. The polished path. The version of success that gets applauded the loudest.

It’s hard to resist that pull. There’s comfort in choosing something that already has a step-by-step roadmap. You follow the track, hit the milestones, land the internship, and move forward. But what happens if you’re not sure that track is yours? What if you're drawn to something a little less structured—like public policy, education, advocacy, or creative work?

I’m still figuring it out. Some days, I do feel the pressure to pursue what’s popular—especially when so many people seem to have it all figured out already. But other days, I feel the pull toward something more personal and less conventional. And I’ve learned that both impulses can exist at once—and that’s okay.

At a place like Penn, it’s easy to feel like success only comes in one form. But the truth is, the most fulfilling paths are often the ones that aren’t the most popular—they’re the ones you’re bold enough to carve out for yourself. So if you’re still exploring, still unsure, still trying to hear your own voice beneath the noise—know that you’re not lost. You’re just being honest with yourself. And that’s where the real journey begins. So ask yourself: What do I actually want?

- Tsering S.