Choosing a path that not many have traveled, is not something we usually jump into feet first. But, we should. Choosing a major in college or a career that no one in your family or circle of friends chose can be difficult because you lack the connections, resources, and direct link to people with experience and information. However, just because no one in your family is a doctor or a Broadway dancer, doesn’t mean you can’t be. It doesn’t mean you can’t make it. To the contrary, there is a benefit when we decide to travel down a road that no one we know has traveled before; we learn to be independent, and it forces us to make connections that we wouldn’t have otherwise made.

If you decide to take the road less traveled—which you should—be aggressive in making connections that will help you along the way. Ask your school for email addresses of alumni that work in the area you want to work in; email them, explain who you are, why you are emailing, and ask them to meet for lunch or coffee to learn more about what they do and how they got there. The worst thing that could happen is they say no, or they don’t respond—so, what? If just one or two people respond and agree to meet you, you will not only receive some insight and guidance, you will slowly create your own network of people that all share the same interests as you do, and, who probably traveled down that same lonely road you are currently navigating.