You Are Already Somebody

We spend so much time trying to become somebody that we forget we already are.

The pressure can feel especially intense when you are preparing for college, completing your degree, or beginning your first job. People constantly ask what career you want, how much money you expect to make, and what you plan to do with your future. After a while, you may begin choosing a life that sounds impressive to others instead of one that genuinely makes you happy.

I experienced this pressure throughout university. People asked about the job I wanted, the salary I expected, and whether I planned to start a business. Studying in Toronto also shaped how I viewed success.

My friends and I often spent time downtown near the Financial District. I would see people in suits entering tall office buildings, and they always appeared successful and secure. For a while, I believed their lives represented the ideal path.

Many of my friends also dreamed of working for one of the Big Four firms. There is nothing wrong with wanting that career if it is truly what makes you happy. Whenever I asked why they wanted it, however, the answer was often the same: “for the money.” Eventually, I started believing that my dreams had to look like theirs.

I began university studying management because it felt like the safe and practical choice. It matched my interest in business and finance, and it appeared to offer a clear path toward a traditional career.

Over time, I realized that I was more interested in the environment, the places around us, and how our surroundings shape the way we live. I decided to change direction and study Economics and Environmental Management, which allowed me to explore my growing interest in urban planning.

Changing paths was frightening, but it felt honest. I became more engaged in my classes, performed better, and eventually graduated with distinction. Now, I am preparing to study Urban Innovation, where I hope to learn how cities can become better places for people to live and thrive.

Looking back, changing what I studied was one of the best decisions I have made. The problem was never that other people had different dreams. The problem was believing that their dreams also had to be mine.

Happiness does not always come from choosing the easiest or most obvious path. Sometimes, it means taking a different direction because the challenges feel worth facing. Money and stability are important, but they should support a meaningful life rather than become its entire purpose.

Listen to your parents, friends, and the people who care about you. Their advice can help you make better decisions, but they cannot live your life for you. The final choice must still be yours.

You do not have to prove that you are somebody through a job title, salary, or future that other people admire. You are already somebody.

Follow what makes you curious, excited, and happy. Give it your best and make the most of your potential. You may eventually realize that you were already succeeding in ways you had not noticed.

For me, happiness is not having every answer. It is knowing that the life I am building is truly mine.