path to perfection

The overwhelmed teenage girl stood immobilized in front of a never-ending corridor that was lined with inviting, open doors. She struggled throughout her high school career to join a club that interested her and this was the last opportunity to find success. Indecision mixed with her need for perfection inhibited her ability to choose the right one. Tousled black hair, a furrowed brow, and fidgeting hands, the girl did not possess the same enthusiasm as the other students who were running in between the rooms, shrieking in excitement. Unlike her, they were eager to see what experience hid behind each door. Slowly meandering down the hallway, she carefully examined the uniquely decorated posters that hung outside of daunting rooms. Theater, debate, and photography never entertained her and she passed those first few doors intentionally, believing there to be no benefit in attempting to break her preconceived notions. She pressed onward, convinced her time would be wasted. Pausing in the hallway and contemplating her next move, her eyes were captivated by puzzle pieces, numbers, and shapes that were sewn onto a poster that hung outside of a dark, ominous room. The anxious teenager spent her weekends with her head buried deep in word searches, sudokus, and other logic problems; she smirked and confidently waltzed through the door.

The door she chose failed her expectations and altered her perception of what she desired. A sigh of frustration and yearning accompanied her dismal attitude as the disheartened girl found herself back in the bustling hallway of students. However, the corridor was slightly more desolate than when she first arrived. Turning around, the doors she passed were no longer open, and she once again pressed onward. With each step, the girl discounted more open doors; film, technology, investments, and volunteer clubs were of no interest. The hours felt interminable and her dissatisfaction grew with each door she passed. Nearing the end of the hallway, she leaped in haste and desperation towards the nearest open door, hoping that the sporadic decision would be the right one. Beakers, chemicals, and flasks littered the tables as students gathered in white lab coats and goggles. Dejection consumed her as she turned and drifted back into the hallway.

The intimidating corridor that formerly encompassed the welcoming, open doors, now looked foreign. Each door she passed was closed and she stood alone in the unnerving silence. Opportunities that once seemed alluring or comfortable, no longer available, forced her to retreat to the last open door in acquiescence. The desire for perfection and fulfillment often neglects the process that allows one to reach their objectives. Every hallway has an open door, yet not every door propels you in the direction you aspire. Doors once closed, will sometimes reopen, and serve as an entrance or exit into the most unexpected, yet compelling opportunities.