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U Mass Boston | Career > Her20s

Life Is A Gamble

Sofia Degani Student Contributor, University of Massachusetts - Boston
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at U Mass Boston chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

To be or not to be. 

One day you are walking into your kindergarten classroom, then you blink and you are in your cap and gown walking across the graduation stage with no clue of what to do with your life. What is the right decision? Where do I want to live? What are my career options? How will I succeed in life? Is there ever a wrong decision? What does my future look like? What can I control? What are my options?  How am I supposed to decide what to do for the rest of my life? How am I in charge of this big decision, when I am still growing up?  These are all questions every post-grad student asks the universe, which will remain unanswered at first. Sometimes I wish there was a magic 8-ball that can answer all my questions. Having no answers is terrifying, uncomfortable, and exciting. The next era is a first step into adulthood, one that no one is prepared for and no one could prepare you for.

Truth be told, life is out of our control. To expect a 20-something-year-old fresh out of college to know what they want to do with the rest of their life is unrealistic. Even more so, the expectations we set for ourselves are unrealistic. We set the expectation that once graduation rolls around, we should know what we want to do. However, that is very unlikely in most cases. 

Life is a guessing game. It’s a game where we are expected to know all the answers. There is never a right decision. We have to go with our gut and hope for the best, and if it doesn’t work out, then it was never meant to be. 

With graduation coming up, many feel scared, nervous, unsure, anxious, and excited about this new chapter. We are about to start the first chapter of the rest of our lives! No more classes, just a big kid job and trying to figure out who we are. They say the world is your oyster, but what they don’t say is how big the oyster is and all the emotions that come with it. Between the tears and the weighing of the pros and cons of every possible outcome, we carry a heavy weight on our shoulders. How does someone decide their future? There is fear of making the wrong choice. There is excitement from having dreams, but what if our dream is too big? What if we fail? What if we do succeed, then what? 

Although failure is a part of the process, it can be terrifying. All of this is running through our brains. We often forget that if we work hard enough, we can succeed and fulfill our dreams. Fear is powerful, but our willingness to try has to be more powerful. 

Every choice is the right one. What is meant for you will find you. Failure is just another step towards our dreams. Maybe the point of life is to gamble with all of your options. 

To whoever may be feeling this way, you are not alone.

Sofia Degani

U Mass Boston '26

I am a senior at the University of Massachusetts Boston, majoring in Communications. My academic focus centers on storytelling, media, and the role communication plays in shaping understanding and connection across cultures. Through my coursework, I have developed strong writing, analytical, and creative skills, while learning how language and media influence the way people engage with the world. In addition to my academic experience, I have worked professionally in gyms and retail, roles that strengthened my interpersonal communication, adaptability, and ability to collaborate with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Outside of my studies and professional work, I am deeply curious about the world and motivated by a passion for learning. I have traveled to approximately twenty countries across three continents, including six solo trips that pushed me to become more independent and self-aware. Travel has been one of my most meaningful teachers, offering firsthand insight into different cultures, perspectives, and ways of living. Language has always been central to my curiosity, and I speak English, Spanish, French, and Catalan, which allows me to connect more deeply with people and places during my travels.

In my personal life, I enjoy writing, traveling, and exploring creative outlets that encourage reflection and self-expression. I believe that life’s possibilities become endless once you approach the world with curiosity and passion, and once you choose to live fully in the present. I strive to carry this mindset into my academic work, creative writing, and everyday experiences, viewing life as a continuous opportunity to learn, grow, and engage with meaning.