Being Confronted With My Programming
My Programming
I grew up being taught that the goal in life was simple: go to school, get an education, and climb the corporate ladder. For years, I thought that was the only path to success.
But now, I find myself questioning if I really want those things—or if I only want them because that’s what I was programmed to believe.
The Corporate Ladder Myth
For so long, I believed life was about working as hard as possible, climbing higher and higher until retirement. But the truth is, that version of success doesn’t resonate with me anymore. I was programmed. Accepting that piece of it is the hardest part. Realizing I was sold a reality that was never meant to serve me.
One song lyric haunts me: “And then you work so hard ‘til your hair turns grey, let me tell you about life and about the way it is…”
So many people live that way. But is that what I want my life to look like? No.
Childhood Dreams vs. Reality
Growing up, I dreamed of being a doctor after I noticed how much respect it garned from those around me. I wanted to work tirelessly, retire late in life, and only then enjoy the fruits of my labor at the ripe age of 81. Shows like The Cosby Show inspired me—Mrs. Huxtable the Attorney, her husband the Doctor. That professional image was everything to me. I wanted that life, but as I got into the field and learned what healthcare really was, I couldn’t do it. So I switched lanes.
So here I am: 29, single, and choosing a different path. Instead of chasing someone else’s dream, I’m learning to listen to my own.
Redefining Success on My Own Terms
I’ve discovered a new side of myself—the adventurous part of me that loves freedom and doesn’t want to wait until retirement to live.
Life since leaving healthcare has been one long process of self-discovery. Maybe that’s what it’s always been about—finding who I am apart from what I was told I should be.
So will I ever climb the corporate ladder? Maybe. But if I do, it will be on my own terms, in a way that aligns with my values and sense of freedom. Success, I’m learning, isn’t a single path or title. It’s the freedom to decide what matters most, the courage to change direction, and the joy of building a life that feels like mine.
And right now, that feels like the real win.
By: Bria
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