The high school Graduation ceremony!

I stood there in my cap and gown, sweating like a horse after a long run, all while being under the hot sun. Finally, high school was over! My diploma feels like a foot in the door to my future, but honestly, I have no idea what to do. I used to sell random things to students during my school years, though I'm not good at convincing.

Choice 1 : Money is always the primary objective. Find work.

Choice 2 : Degree is more important. Go to college.

Choice 3 : Becoming an entrepreneur sounds enticing.

To choose the safe way to apply for work.

You decided that going to college or becoming an entrepreneur was a waste of money and got a full-time job as a sales associate at an electronics store. The wage was minimum, but hey, at least you not in debt!

Choice 1 : Try to continue working to earn more money and work experience.

Choice 2 : You think you have enough money, apply for college.

The three-year mark.

You're still at the same store, still making minimum wage; however, work was easy, and you seemed to enjoy it. Every day was the same: smile, sell TVs, hit the bed, then repeat. Your greed for money hinders your real passion. Your coworker Thomas, who'd been there 23 years, looked at you and said, " Don't end up like me, kid. This is a dead-end job." You laughed it off.

Choice 1 : Dreams are for those who don't have goals, keep working.

Choice 2 : Getting that degree seems enticing now. Go to college.

Choice 3 : Some of your friends are trying to start a small business, join them.

To ignore Thomas's advice.

You decided to keep working, thinking you'd work your way up eventually. The work was repetitive, but it paid the mortgage. The drudgery of working in retail starts affecting you, but you convince yourself it was fine.

Choice 1 : Resume work.

Your decision to apply to college.

You tried English colleges, but there was no spot available, so you applied to French colleges and managed to land at Montmorency College. Your parents wanted you to become a doctor, but you didn't find the passion in it. You're thinking of applying for the Business Management program.

Choice 1 : It's interesting, try it.

Choice 2 : Forget that, apply for Science program.

Your admission into Business Management.

You get accepted despite the rocky start, and you learned the ins and outs of business. You find Consumer psychology, market research, and advertising strategies fascinating, but they become harder and harder each semester.

Choice 1 : It's hard but keep going

Choice 2 : You think it's a waste of time. Start over.

The pressure of expectation.

You start feeling the drudgery after failing two semesters in a row. You become depressed, and everything you do feels worthless. The thought of losing another semester fills you with dread, and you start losing motivation month after month.

Choice 1 : Depression deterred your progress. Start over.

Choice 2 : Just follow your dream. Keep going.

The last Semester Push.

After researching different studying methods, you stopped being the recipient of failing grades and started acing each class. You feel okay with just being able to pass, even if the grades weren't straight A's. Now you're in your last semester, stress level is going up, and you want to pass thoroughly even though you are deprived of everything. Meanwhile, a trip to Greece has been announced this week; it might be an opportunity to calm down.

Choice 1 : Keep going. You're almost there.

Choice 2 : Go to Greece

The end of the last semester and the start of internship.

You finally managed to nail the last semester, and you were an intern at Deloitte, a global professional services firm, in financial advising. During the internship, you weren't the best, but still, you gained invaluable experience and learned the ins-and-outs even though it was overwhelming. You also find the job amazing, but you doubt they will hire you. The current you is burned out after all that. Meanwhile, you learned a bunch of useful strategies for marketing, and heard your friends trying to start a small business.

Choice 1 : Deloitte feels safe. Apply after the internship.

Choice 2 : You want to compete. Start a small business alone.

Choice 3 : Your friends want to start a small business. Join them.

The field trip to Greece.

College stress had you drained and left you feeling alienated from yourself, so you flew to Greece, hoping the change of scenery would help you feel normal again. But one evening in a crowded street, a group of kids rushed past, bumped you hard, and by the time you realized your bag was gone, you were too exhausted, mentally and physically, to do anything about it.

Choice 1 : Game over. Start over.

Your application to Deloitte.

After a month, Deloitte finally accepted you as a financial advisor. The HR department did the legwork but hesitated after doing a background check. Apparently, it's a personality-related issue, but you were the only option for the vacant position they recently had. You discussed the compensation package. You were relieved you didn't have to do an OJT, but still feel down about how they treated you. Anyways! The income was great even tho the work was... let's say survivable. The promotions took long, and I had to train the new trainee. Nonetheless, it was worthwhile, and the atmosphere was good. It truly is a dream job anyone would wish for!

Choice 1 : Stay in Deloitte and work very hard.

Your decision to start a small business alone.

After surviving your last semester and barely holding it together during your Deloitte internship, you came out with decent knowledge. Burned out but inspired, after hearing your friends had started a small business, you wanted to compete, so you also created a small business alone. The first attempt went really well: smooth launch, clean idea, you started earning bit by bit. Enough confidence to make you think," Maybe I really can do this alone." You wish to go even higher.

Choice 1 : You feel confident. Proceed with the progress.

Your decision to scale up alone.

With your knowledge, things went well at first: new clients, bigger deals, and the thrill of doing it all yourself was addictive. Confident, you invested every penny, and you even borrowed money from the bank to push further, setting aside any doubt. However, soon, costs piled up and income lagged. Paying back the loan became a real struggle, turning your excitement into a nightmare. It was maddening, but you couldn't do everything alone. You had to put aside your pride as bankruptcy was inevitable.

Choice 1 : Lesson learned; bankruptcy hits hard. Start over.

Your acceptance into the Biological Science program.

First semester, and you're completely lost. Everyone around you was so passionate, talking about helping people and earning a good amount of income. You were just trying not to fail. Even your lab partners asks you, "Why are you even here? You can't become a doctor if your heart's not in it." He was right. But as a hard-headed you are, you kept saying you would pull it off. You even decided to redo the semester again and again, and ended up wasting time and money.

Choice 1 : Lesson learned; Follow your passion. Start over.

The risk of always playing it safe.

Years went by, no promotion, the same tasks every day. Thomas was thoughtful to tell you once again to find your purpose. You start considering his warning, but it's too late. The Store announced closures due to bankruptcy. You are now 39 years old with 21 years of retail experience and no other skills. Empty savings or backup plan, either (rent ate everything).

Choice 1 : You ended up homeless. Start over.

The time thirty years later.

You're retired now, after years of working at Deloitte, earning a great salary and handling occasional overtime and office politics. You managed to pull off big projects, put aside money, and survived the relentless drive of work. Even dealing with subtle misconduct from your coworkers couldn't stop you. Looking back, you thought a lot about quitting many times, but you stayed, toughened through it all. Now, you feel the deep fulfillment of a fully lived life.

Choice 1 : Congrats. Start over again.

Your decision to join your friend in their small business.

After joining your friend's business, things moved fast. Because of your leadership and amazing decision-making, they decided to make you the Store Director. At first, it was exciting; meetings every night, plans on the table, everyone dreamed big. There were a lot of mistakes and arguments, but being together kept everyone motivated. Then, the business started failing; the bills piled up, competitors took clients away, and panic hit the group. Your friends begged you to put in more hours, and you knew it was too much, but the pressure wasn't going away.

Choice 1 : Refuse. It's impossible.

Choice 2 : You give in to their request.

Your decision to refuse.

You tell them you can't burn yourself out for a sinking ship. They get angry and they call you selfish. They also cut off all connection to you. A week later, during the night, you are walking home after a successful job interview when you get stabbed by a stranger.

Choice 1 : Lesson learned; choices have consequences. Start over.

The decision to give in.

You take all the overtime, the stress, the sleepless nights. Because of you, slowly, the business grows bigger, more successful and stable, but your health doesn't. One day, you collapse from exhaustion and are sent to the hospital. Weeks in the hospital left you physically weaker, but the doctor said you should be able to work. When you tried to come back, your friends shut the door completely on purpose, undermining all of your efforts and taking the credit for themselves. You start thinking they probably didn't want you to steal the crown. After all of the sacrifices made, you were left sick and abandoned.

Choice 1 : Lesson learned; sacrifices aren't always rewarded. Start over.

The pursuit of entrepreneurship.

You think of selling for real, to a bigger, online, wider crowd. After all, you did sell things before, right? You had no experience or plan, so you started small and sold vapes. At first, it seems fine, you sell a few to friends and your connection widens, but that's all, you realize the limits. The income is slow, and some customers don't even pay at all. You find your motivation turning into a waste. Looking back, maybe college could be a smarter choice?

Choice 1 : Apply to college.

Choice 2 : Keep going.

To push hard despite your limit.

You studied a bit and tried new things like online ads, discounts, and reaching out to more friends. You even poured longer hours and skipped meals, but it's never enough. Most customers ditch or just want the free trial. Profits disappear, and the stress deters you alive. In the end, you're burned out, with both time and money wasted.

Choice 1 : Lesson learned; sometimes walking away is the best option. Start over.