Nabiha I.
Photography by Ashley Kung
If you’re reading this, you’ll find your way.
I want you to know that being lost isn’t a flaw — it’s a beginning. So many of us grow up believing we need to have every step planned, every goal perfectly mapped out, but life doesn’t work that way. Sometimes the path curves, sometimes it forks into two different roads, and sometimes you find yourself standing alone in the dark with no idea where the path is. And that’s okay, because being uncertain doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re human. It means you’re still becoming.
I used to fight that feeling all the time. During my undergraduate years, I carried so much confusion with me. I was meaninglessly following the path my immigrant parents wanted for me, trying to make them proud even when it didn’t feel like my own dream. I had no personal motivation to keep going, and I was constantly stuck in the same mindset, always asking myself, "What am I doing?" I watched people around me pursue internships, apply to graduate programs, and talk passionately about their future careers, while to me, school felt more like a chore than a calling. I often wondered why I couldn’t seem to feel what they felt, why I had no motivation to chase my own future. I questioned myself constantly, feeling behind, like I was missing something everyone else had already figured out. I kept asking myself the same question over and over, wondering what I was supposed to do. And no matter how hard I tried to force an answer, nothing felt right.
But here’s the truth I wish I had known sooner: clarity comes when you experience life, not when you try to force yourself to have all the answers. Even though I always knew I wanted a future where I could help people, I didn’t know where that passion truly belonged. That changed shortly after I graduated, when I joined the Florida Recovery Center as a clinical research assistant. At first, I joined only to follow in the footsteps of people around me, gain more clinical experience, and buff up my resume a bit. However, I did not realize that this was where my lifelong commitment to research and patient care would begin. I walked in with a half-hearted desire to make a difference, and instead, I found a purpose that finally felt like mine. This is where everything changed for me.
In this role, I have seen patients walk in with immense regret and deep struggles, and later leave with a newfound hope and sense of determination. The moments of connection, the opportunity to listen to their stories, and the privilege of witnessing recovery opened my heart in a way I had never experienced before. I realized how much purpose I found in showing up for people who were struggling. I learned that healing is not linear, and neither is finding your path. I discovered my love for being a part of something bigger than myself — something that gave me the power to change lives, including my own.
That experience helped me turn my life around. It gave me direction, passion, and a sense of belonging I didn’t know I was missing. It showed me that the moments when you feel the most lost can lead you to the places you were meant to find all along. All I needed was some time and patience.
So, if you’re reading this, there is only one message I want to share: that you are not behind. You are not broken. You are not supposed to have everything figured out right now. Everyone follows a different timeline; you do not need to compare yourself to others or look down on yourself. Keep going, keep trying, and keep listening to the small things that feel right. Your path will reveal itself, just like mine did.
You’ll find your way — even if you don’t see it yet.
Nabiha I., University of Florida
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