I'm At A Crossroad

Who do I want? What do I want to be?? Heck I thought I already knew what I wanted… now …Heck I do not know?!?!?

At this point in life I am at a crossroad – I do not know. Who else has been here?

From birth I have always known my next steps in life. Now it feels like I have a blank slate. I am going into a new phase of life – but I don’t really have a plan. This is weird!

Wasn't I a cute baby :)

Since probably the tender age of 3, I was told – “you are going to be a doctor.” I didn’t know what that was - but it truly made life so easy to have my profession/plan all figured out. Anytime I would meet someone and they ask me “Little girl…what do you want to do be when you grow up?” My response was so simple – “A Doctor”. I always said it with confidence and ease and since it’s a good profession, I rarely got additional questions after the initial one.

Move forward to high school and then I had to get a little more specific on my career quest, had to pick what type of Doctor – I settled on being an OB-GYN. It had a nice ring to it. And my confidence and respect went up even more when I would share, I was going to be an OB-GYN.

As I went off to the illustrious Fisk University for college and selected my major – I already knew in the next 7-8 years, you would be calling me Dr. Lauren A. Hickman. (whew doesn’t that have a nice ring to it!). However, by the end of the semester – I did not want to be a Doctor anymore. I was scared to death; how can I change my mind?!? This what I have planned for all my life!

My Parentals :) I swear they love Fisk more than me lol

I didn’t pull the plug right away but my March of my Freshman year, I couldn’t take it anymore – I had to stop the madness. I called up my father crying from the outside of the Chemistry Lab and said the simple words “I do not want to be a Doctor anymore”. I have to really thank my Father because he didn’t scold me or bring me down – it was a simple question “what do you want to do next?” *cueblankstare

I had no clue – but within say three hours of discussion with my Parentals, I had a new focus and direction – I was going to be changing my major to Business majoring in Finance.

#MBASecured

I didn’t miss a beat! Came back Sophomore year now a new Business major ready to conquer the world. And also, by that time I concluded I was going to become an Investment Banker (still until this day don’t know what all they do – but it sounded good! lol) I held tough with this major and graduated from Fisk in May of 2009 with my Bachelors in Business Administration. I continued on to get my MBA from the one and only Clark Atlanta University; I concentrated in Finance as well at CAU. So, May 2011, I had my new name - Lauren Hickman, M.B.A. Aye! I like the ring of it too!!

I went on to start a great career in Corporate America – and if you guessed I am not in the investment banking field but lets jump start to now I am at a crossroad?!?

For all of my child & adult life, for the most part, has been directed for me to some extent. There was no second guessing, I just executed against a plan. Now as I look around as my 32-year-old self, I feel like I am starting a new chapter. And what I mean by that is I feel like I am taking in all that I have learned on this earth in past couple decades and now reshaping it to see the kind of life that I want. I feel like we all have crossroads in life and we wonder what should we do? Where should we go? Why am I here? And really, I am just starting to ask myself these questions. Do I want to stay in Corporate America all my career? I don’t know. Do I want to be a full-time entrepreneur? I don’t know. Do I want to figure out how to travel the world for free…? Hmm that sounds like a great plan.

But really, all I am trying to get through to you in this blog is, we all have moments where we face a crossroad… should I go left, right, or turn back around? But regardless whatever path you choose, you make it the decision the best way possible, with what you have.

What's the plan next - who know's? But I'll figure it out!

We all have crossroads and get this anxiety of “am I going to pick the best decision??” You may or may not – but regardless be confident in your decision(s)! I look back on my life and it hasn’t been bad at all… I have had a hiccup here or there but overall it has been very good. A true blessing.

This blog was dedicated to all of us who are in our crossroads of life… just keep pushing forward… take your time and when the decision presents itself of your next phase – enter it with excitement!!!

#crossroad #whatthenextstep #whatstheplan #idontknow #speakupla