We put so much pressure on ourselves to know who we are. What we want to study. What career we want. Who our friends are. What we believe. Even what kind of person we are supposed to be.

But the truth is, we are allowed to change.

A year ago, I was still figuring out what I wanted my future to look like. I knew I loved communication and had an interest in broadcasting, but I hadn’t fully understood what that could mean for me.After getting more exposure to the working world, including experiences like Cell C’s Take a Child to Work Day, I started seeing my interests differently. Talking to professionals and seeing how different careers actually work made me more confident about what excites me, but it also showed me how much there is still to discover.

And I think that’s a good thing.

I’ve also changed in smaller ways. I ask more questions. I’m more comfortable speaking to new people. I’ve become more aware of what gives me energy and what doesn’t. Some things I used to care about don’t feel quite as important anymore.

That doesn’t mean the old version of me was wrong. I was just working with the information I had at the time.

I think we sometimes treat changing our minds like we’ve made a mistake. But imagine if we never changed our minds about anything. We’d be walking around with the exact same opinions, interests and playlists forever. Honestly, the playlist alone would be a problem.

Growing means learning, and learning means discovering that sometimes your plans need adjusting.

So if you’re starting a new season of your life and you feel different from the person you were last year, don’t panic. You haven’t lost yourself. You might just be getting to know yourself better.

And personally, I think that’s one of the most exciting parts of growing up.

____________________

Share this article with your friends and family, and follow us on social media for more articles on well-being, entrepreneurship, and more, proudly brought to you by See Youth by Cell C.