You’re allowed to outgrow the dream you had at twelve.

A plan made by a child was made with a child’s information, and you are not obliged to honour it. Dropping it can feel like a betrayal, especially if people have been asking about it for years. The point of the dream was to give that version of you something to aim at, and it did.

If you are carrying one of those out of loyalty, say so out loud to one person. Then name what you would pick now, even roughly. The disappointment you are braced for is almost always smaller than you expect.