It was so black and white that it felt like everything depended on getting into college, getting the grades for college, graduating college, then finding a job. Anything less would surely result in life failure.
I can’t believe most of my childhood anxiety came from that constant fear that as a undiagnosed neurodivergent kid who struggled in school, I would be absolutely doomed if I didn’t do life perfectly according to this plan.
I’m reconsidering what industry to work in now and I’m at a loss because I still hold this belief to some extent.