THE PRESSURE OF WHAT’S NEXT
If there’s one question that seems to constantly float around my mind, it’s “What’s next?”
A seemingly simple question that can carry so much weight. It’s a question we ask ourselves, but also get asked by people around us. It shows up in conversations with friends, in family check-ins, in the moments when we slow down enough to stop and think. But even when things are going well, this question can still feel heavy.
I think it’s because when we ask ourselves “what’s next,” it’s not just out of curiosity… instead, it carries expectations.
And while all of these “steps” are exciting on their own, they can also make it feel like there’s always something just out of reach, or that they are simply boxes to check along the way.
So if you’re feeling this, no matter what stage you’re at, I want to remind you…
It’s important to remind yourself, especially during major life transition moments, that growth doesn’t always look like having a perfect plan.
Sometimes it looks like trying something new, realizing it’s not for you, and pivoting. Sometimes it looks like staying consistent with something small. And sometimes, it looks like simply giving yourself the space to not have everything figured out.
You started with an idea—sometimes unclear, sometimes imperfect—and through creating, experimenting, and showing up, you built something meaningful. Not because you had every step mapped out, but because you were willing to try.
But really, you’re just in the middle of your story, unfolding and growing you at every stage. And I promise, that’s not something you want to rush!
So when you find yourself asking “What’s next?” on repeat, here are some alternatives…
The future isn’t built all at once–it’s shaped by the small decisions, the risks, the failures, and the moments you choose to lean into what matters to you.
Just don’t let it convince you that you need to have all the answers already. Just like your experience in Student-Made, it’s okay to start small, lean in, and grow from there.
