The author explains that the other Wes Moore’s life is different because he made different decisions when it came to life choices. Have you ever made a decision that you believe could have altered your life path?

Looking back on my life, I have made many decisions that have altered my path, and I continuously make decisions that could alter it in the future. I could be in a very different place at the moment if I had made other decisions than the ones I chose. My decisions in the past have put me in a different country, away from my family, and working to fulfill a dream.

The first thing that came to mind was declining a contract to work in ballet at 17. The director was offering me something I had always wanted, but I chose to leave the country to find better training before thinking about a job in this field. Then, I had to choose between the two schools that I had applied to and been accepted to: New York City or London. 

Staying in Peru would have meant dancing in the mornings and attending a regular college while doing a “normal” career in the afternoons. I would have all the commodities such as a house with my own room, a maid who cooks and cleans for us, a driver or my own car, my family by my side every day, and a salary. Even though this sounds like a good option, it was not what I wanted, and it is not what my dad wanted either. I saw the opportunity of leaving as a way to better myself professionally as a dancer, go to a place where no one knew me, and I could start fresh. 

My decision to move to New York alone at 18 drastically changed my life path. I see so many opportunities in my future that I did not see before. I have grown as a dancer and still have the chance to get a higher education. This year, even though it is still April, I have done a play, student films, my first paid performance in the US, and performances coming up. Also, I have met people who could positively change my career. None of these things would have happened if I opted for comfort and stayed in Peru. 

  

Every single decision we make can affect our life path because actions have consequences, which can be either positive or negative. Most of the time, at least for me, making significant decisions is very hard because we do not know the correct answer. Sometimes, it can be evident, like deciding whether to take a scholarship or pay full tuition, but most of the time, it is much more complicated than that. In my case, it was because I had no idea what to expect from the program I was going to, and I had never been far away from my home and family for that long. Also, nobody knows what my life would look like if I had gone to the school in London instead of the one in New York. 

I think that small decisions can change your life path as well. I left a group of friends last year because the energy put into the friendship only came through one way. At the time, it was more complicated than I expected because I really cared for these girls and saw them every day in class. This group now does not have a positive popularity in the school, and there is a lot of drama surrounding it. They were not a good influence on me, and now, even though we still talk occasionally, I can confidently say that I am glad I am not a member of that group. I have amazing friends who put as much energy into the friendship as I do.

I am happy with the decisions that I have made so far. Not all of them were right, but I learned from those mistakes and grew. My choices have brought me to a place full of life and art, where I learn new things daily and grow personally and professionally.