Did you actually choose your career or did it just happen to you?

Lately I’ve been noticing something in conversations with friends, coworkers, even in posts here.

Most of us didn’t choose our career.

We picked something at 17–18 because it felt “safe”… or because our parents approved… or because our marks fit that field… or because it was the first thing that paid.

Some people didn’t even choose. They just fell into whatever said “yes” first.

Then years later, we wake up at 28–35 having this sudden moment of:

“Wait… did I ever consciously choose this path?” “Do I even want the life that comes with this career?” “Whose dream am I following, mine or someone else’s?”

What’s crazy is that this is considered normal.

We end up working full-time in something we picked with almost zero self-awareness… and then blame ourselves when it doesn’t fit.

So I’m genuinely curious:

Did you actually choose your career? Or did it quietly choose you?