When I first read this prompt, I burst out laughing. At my age, was this still a question worth pondering? For the first time, before attempting an answer, I looked at how others had responded—and that only made me more whimsical.

As a primary and middle school teacher, I often posed this very question to students, guiding them toward a future shaped by dreams and aspirations. But to ask me this question in my late 50s? It made me pause. I wondered—had I ever truly answered this question before?

Once, as I neared high school graduation, the question surfaced. But I never answered it. Did I leap over one hurdle too quickly, only to tumble into another? Probably.

Let me tell you what happened.

---

A Brilliant Student, A Sports Enthusiast, A Wanderer

I was one of the top three students in my class—recognized, respected. Yet I carried silent struggles.

I never studied for tests or exams in the traditional sense. My learning came from understanding concepts deeply, asking endless questions, and holding the entire class hostage with discussions. That was my version of a library consultation. Once I grasped an idea, I easily generalized it flawlessly.

But there was another side to me—I was equally devoted to sports. Representing my school in handball and sprints, I excelled. The school saw my talent and nudged me toward athletic success. Academic preparation? That took a backseat.

Some teachers, bound by school policies, carefully tried to show me the bigger picture world beyond sports. But I was clever, always ready with a response that preserved my course.

Then came Mr. “Akpu-na-garri”—our Economics and English teacher, full of wisdom and tact.

---

The Moment I Never Answered

After graduation preparations, he summoned us for one final class. His topic: “What will you be after graduation?”

I sat distracted, listening as my classmates shared their dreams—Doctors, Lawyers, Engineers, Professors, and entrepreneurs.

Then, he called my name.

“And you, Miss—what would you want to be?”

Before I speak, another student interjected, “Oh, she’ll be a model, like the ones on magazine covers.” He even held up a magazine to make his point. The room erupted in laughter.

I was cross. The class ended before I ventured to give my answer.

I never got the chance.

So, I drifted, flowing wherever education took me. Over the years, I have ventured into countless careers, but settling? That has yet to happen.

And now, at this stage of my life, the question feels more relevant than ever.

---

The Answer I Finally Have

For years, I’ve asked my inner being:

• Who are you?
• What will make you truly happy?
• You’ve spent a lifetime making others happy, but what about you?
• What would you wake up each morning eager to do?

I’ve worked hard. I’ve obeyed norms—many of them unjust. But have they led me to fulfillment?

The answer has always been the same:

I want to write.

I want to reach many for Jesus. I want to speak through words when I am absent and fearlessly when I am present.

If this could sustain me—if it allowed me to work from home, reach multitudes, schedule work at my pace—then yes, this is my career plan.

To be a successful writer, author, and publisher, and embrace every opportunity that comes with it.

---

Beloved, No Time Is Lost

The world remains open for exploration, regardless of age.

We make choices that backfire. We give undeserved respect to paths that do not serve us. We conform to norms that drain rather than uplift.

It doesn’t matter. What matters is when we recognize the dead-end, the broken navigator, the bitterness of misplaced satisfaction—and when we choose to chart a new course.

Sometimes, all it takes is moving away from the crowd that misleads us into a crowd that challenges us—bringing out the best in our hidden talents.

Never assume your story has ended. There is always something great ahead.

Even Samson, stripped of everything, did not stop trying. When all seemed lost, he pushed himself one final time—and victory followed.

I am encouraged.

Are you?