I’m Interested in Too Many Things

What if I’m interested in too many things and can’t choose just one?

Let me start here—because I want you to hear this clearly:
Having “too many” interests is not a flaw.
It’s not confusion.
And it’s definitely not something you need to fix.
In my own life, I’ve moved from biology teacher to instructional technologist, to grant administrator, to program director. On paper, that might look scattered. From the inside, it feels intentional—because every step added something I needed later.
So if you’re sitting there wondering how you’re supposed to choose one thing when your mind and heart are pulling you in several directions at once, let me offer you a different frame:
You don’t have to shrink yourself to fit into a single box.

1. Be All Parts of You
I often tell my nieces, my students, and the professionals I coach to be all parts of you.
You are not meant to be one-dimensional.
For over 25 years, I sang in a church choir—feeding my creative spirit—while also navigating demanding academic programs. Later, during my PhD, I noticed something interesting: when I stepped away from dense analytical work to paint a mural or fix something around the house, I came back to my research clearer, more creative, more grounded.
Those “other” interests weren’t distractions.
They were balance.
So if you love science and music, policy and art, technology and storytelling—don’t feel guilty about that. Those interests aren’t competing. They’re stabilizing you.

2. Look for the Intersection (Think “And,” Not “Or”)
Instead of asking yourself, Which one do I choose?
Try asking, Where do these interests meet?
In our career exploration lessons, I teach learners to use AI as a thinking partner to surface these intersections. One of the prompts we use is:
“Based on my interest in [one field] and my passion for [another interest], what kinds of roles or paths might combine both?”
Here’s the reality:
If you love art and technology, that doesn’t mean you have to abandon one. It might mean you’re drawn to UX design, creative technology, or digital storytelling.
You don’t always have to subtract.
Sometimes, the work is about combining.

3. “Save for Later” Doesn’t Mean “No”
When I was writing my dissertation prospectus, I drafted 158 pages—and then had to cut 30.
I didn’t delete them.
I moved them into a document labeled save for later.
Life works the same way.
Just because you can’t pursue every interest right now doesn’t mean those interests disappear. It means you’re prioritizing for this season. You can focus deeply on one path, knowing that others can come back around.
As my pastor would say, “It’s coming up again.”
Life is long. You don’t have to do everything at once.

4. Your Path Is Allowed to Look Nonlinear
If you looked at my academic and professional journey without context, it might seem disjointed:

• Biology
• Secondary education
• Public policy
• Instructional technology

But each step gave me something I needed later.
Biology taught me how to understand systems.
Public policy taught me how power and decisions shape education.
Teaching taught me how people actually learn.
No interest was wasted.
You’re not wandering—you’re gathering tools for a role that might not exist yet… or one you’ll eventually create yourself.

5. Let Curiosity Lead the Next Step
When you’re interested in many things, follow the curiosity that’s loudest right now.
Curiosity isn’t a distraction—it’s a compass.
When I was teaching biology, I wasn’t afraid of the content. I was curious about why students were being tested the way they were. That question led me into public policy, which eventually led me back to technology.
Curiosity shows you what wants your attention next.
You don’t need the whole map—just the next step.

6. Remember: You’re Building a Life, Not a Résumé
​You don’t need to become an expert in all your interests this year.
Or even this decade.
Aesop was right: slow and steady wins the race.
You are allowed to explore thoughtfully, move intentionally, and grow in layers. You’re not behind. You’re becoming.
And one day, when the pieces click together, you’ll realize that having many interests was never the problem.
It was the preparation.