The Career Bumble

 I wonder how many forty-somethings out there feel like they’ve somehow bumbled their way through their career. I come from the generation that followed the well-worn “life path” template: go to school, find a reliable job, get married, buy a house, raise kids, and repeat this cycle with your own kids. And for a lot of people, maybe that formula worked just fine. Maybe they landed in a career that left them feeling...comfortable. By that, I mean they could pay their bills, treat their family to a vacation now and then, and hit the grocery store without narrowing down to the bare necessities. But for me? Well, this is the story of how I bumbled that path.

Young Dreams Meet the Real World

When I was a teenager, I fell hard for music. My free time was spent writing songs or singing with my girl group. By twelfth grade, we were doing surprise sing-o-grams, playing local concerts—anything we could. We wrote, we rehearsed, we bonded. The dream felt alive. But then one day, out of the blue, one of our core members called to tell us she was going solo. She’d renewed her commitment to Christianity and wanted to sing gospel music. While I respected her choice, I felt this unmistakable ache that something precious was ending. And sure enough, without her, our group lost that special chemistry, that spark, and we eventually drifted apart.

But I wasn’t ready to let go. I kept hustling—networking, singing solo at open mics, even flying to Atlanta to meet with a producer. There were a few high points, some memorable moments, but ultimately, it all fell apart. Still, I tried to keep my feet on the traditional “path” too. I started as a nursing major (which ended quickly after one nerve-wracking trip to the men’s ward at a public hospital). So, I switched to education, thinking I’d teach by day and pursue music in my spare time, always ready to “fall back” on teaching if needed. It seemed practical, a way to support my dreams without totally abandoning them.

When the Dream Starts to Fade

Somewhere about seven years into my teaching career, I felt my passion for music start to drain away. I was exhausted, my heart bruised from every near-miss and false start. And I realized I’d been spinning my wheels for years, pouring my soul into something that just wasn’t working out. I felt like I’d bumbled it. I’d tried to stay on the path, but even teaching didn’t offer the stability I’d imagined.

Don’t get me wrong—I grew to love working with kids, especially helping them learn to read. There was something fulfilling about it, a spark that kept me going. So, I decided to pursue my master’s in literacy, hoping it would be a turning point. But just when I thought I was making headway, life threw another curveball: the course was canceled. I tried again later but couldn’t afford the fees. Meanwhile, my colleagues seemed to have it all figured out—making moves, leveling up. I felt like they were being told, “You’re on the right track,” while I was left just...existing.

If I Could Go Back…

At this point, I don’t have foolproof steps to prevent anyone else from bumbling. I’m still figuring things out myself. But if I could talk to my younger self, I’d give her this advice:

1. Take a year to observe. Graduate high school, skip college for a minute, and look around. Try to find a job and see what careers seem to have true growth potential.
2. Focus on the numbers. Ask questions about income and cost of living. Which careers offer a salary that would leave you “comfortable”? Don’t just guess—get real about what you need.
3. Hold onto your money. Don’t spend all your hard-earned cash on boyfriends. They’ll need to figure out their lives; you focus on building yours.
4. Invest as early as possible. Buy property if you can; look into crypto or other investments if they make sense.
5. Listen to yourself. Not everyone’s journey will look the same. And that’s okay.

Now, if only someone could point me to the nearest time machine.

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